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Tigers fans have their say on record Leicester loss... and the consensus isn't what you might expect
After suffering their heaviest loss in the history of the Premiership, there were few positives to take away from the Wednesday night Leicester hammering at Wasps – the side coached by Steve Borthwick slumped to a 54-7 defeat at the Ricoh, which leaves them rooted to eleventh place in the Gallagher Premiership.
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The world of social media has made unpleasant viewing for anyone involved with Leicester in the aftermath, with fingers pointed at where the club is going wrong at the moment. No one can necessarily agree on what the main reason behind this decline at Welford Road is, but Wednesday was a new low point for many.
Some supporters are seeing the bigger picture in this situation, though, realising it will take time for the Tigers’ resurrection.
Given the Premiership’s currently unique schedule since its return from the coronavirus break, there have been a number of lopsided score lines with teams fielding XVs of differing strengths. That was undeniably the case with Leicester at the Ricoh following the XV named by Borthwick – and results like that come with the territory.
Moreover, without the lingering threat of relegation due to the Saracens salary cap punishment, there is perhaps less to play for at the bottom of the table this season.
"That is not something to be proud of today"
– Cub skipper leaves it all out there ?https://t.co/ffU9vS6U8P
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 10, 2020
While that is the case across the Premiership, the Tigers were handed the bitter blow weeks before the season restarted when a cohort of high-profile players – including Manu Tuilagi – left the club after contract breakdowns. Borthwick had only recently taken the Leicester helm and was very much on the back foot.
It seems some supporters are bearing that in mind and are treating the conclusion of this season as a pre-season for 2020/21. No one, however, seems to be under any illusions about how much time this will take for Borthwick and director of rugby Geordan Murphy to turn things around, given how long the club’s decay has been.
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Having said that, while there are those that know Borthwick must be afforded time, there are those in equal measure who are despondent, particularly given the Tigers’ proud history. A response is expected this Sunday when they host their East Midlands rivals Northampton Saints at Welford Road.
Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to start the process of getting back to the top. Great club, Ellis is leader, Steve Borthwick is a great coach.. it may take some time but tigers will be back..You can bet on that.
— Tom Neal (@TomNeal92875117) September 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/RichDulson1989/status/1303765668421144581?s=20
It is hard to watch. But we all raved about the Borthwick appointment. And no one could have foreseen the Covid impact/squad turnover/empty stadiums. Only fair to give the team time to get going.
— Gregor Brown (@GregorBrownGB) September 9, 2020
You need to give Borthwick time to get that Tigers brutal grind you down pack back.
— JC & Yogi (@ImmerJc) September 9, 2020
How can anyone seriously be too disappointed with everything that’s going on at the moment? Every team weve played so far has played their first team whilst were played every man in our squad in a new coaching team. Wait until next season
— Joe Yeomanson (@Joeyeo92) September 9, 2020
I’m cool with this season being a trial and extended preseason. However if this is the results next season I think relegation is what is needed to sort the club out. I think top eight is a minimum to show progression next season or its crunch time.
— William Morriss (@William71233971) September 9, 2020
Played against a much more drilled team. Definitely exposed some of our weaknesses and showed how much we need to grow to compete higher up. Wasn’t our strongest team by far which I think showed. Annoyed with ref allowing steps towards lineouts and long waits for scrums…
— Jonathan Malin (@Jonnyrjackson) September 9, 2020
It takes time to turn an oil tanker around in rough seas, especially when some of the crew should’ve been put on extended shore leave months ago. The immediate on field strategy needs to be to ensure that one other club is worse than us next season and build from there.
— Mark Fletcher #Sunak Out (@MarkFletch117) September 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments