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Leicester Tigers fans fear relegation as season spirals towards the unthinkable
Exeter Chiefs ran in seven tries at Welford Road to put a major dent in Leicester Tigers’ hopes of Premiership survival.
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The league leaders dominated more or less from the outset, and secured a bonus-point after just half an hour thanks to scores from Matt Kvesic, Jack Yeandle, Olly Woodburn and Henry Slade.
A bad day at the office for the hosts was made worse by Youngs’ late red card, with Geordan Murphy’s men still just five points away from the relegation zone.
They've been game in attack occasionally, but based on defence alone today @LeicesterTigers can have no complaints if they get relegated. They simply have not been @premrugby quality in this tie. #LEIvEXE @ExeterChiefs
— Ed H-B (@Moledozer) April 6, 2019
#LEIvEXE it would be unimaginable to have a premiership without Tigers. The first English team that really registered in my consciousness as a child, and the benchmark in Europe for years.
Sad day, really.— Catherine Kavanagh (@KavanaghCk) April 6, 2019
That game was scarily one sided. Tigers are in trouble #LEIvEXE
— Finbarr Bevan (@FinbarrBevan) April 6, 2019
Practically in touching distance of the Championship ?? we cannot rely on other teams to save us @BBCLeicester #LEIvEXE
— Frances Keenan (@fmhkeenan) April 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/Jbeardmore/status/1114579424266129408
#LEIvEXE maybe relegation might be the kick up the arse we need?
— Gwynne (@Gwynne45) April 6, 2019
The threat of relegation is now a very real possibility for Leicester after losing nine of their last 12 matches. They could fall to the bottom of the table if they lose to Newcastle, who occupy that spot, next weekend.
“I’ve heard it said the Newcastle match is one of the biggest in our history, but that will come further down the line. We have to reflect on today when the red card killed the game,” Tigers coach Geordan Murphy said after the loss.
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After losing England halfback Ben Youngs for the rest of the season during the week, the Tigers relegation will be that much tougher. Even the appointment of former England defence coach Mike Ford has failed to have an immediate impact, with the side conceding a record number of points in the Premiership era.
The rot started last season when the Tigers missed the playoffs for the first time. After sacking Australian coach Matt O’Connor after the first game of the season, the Tigers have struggled to stop themselves from freefalling down the Premiership ladder. Relegation would be an unthinkable scenario for a club that has won four Premiership titles from 2006 to 2013.
Jim Hamilton’s best moments:
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments