WRW MONDAY: NOW IT REALLY BEGINS
And are fans one step closer to returning??
ULSTER IT IS
BEST WIN OF THE SEASON?
The players did disagree afterwards but I’m still sticking to my guns. To my mind, that was the most promising performance of the season so far.
Two reasons:
Given the age of the pack, it was an outstandingly mature performance from the forwards who not only destroyed Newcastle at the scrum but sorted out the lineout issues which Connacht forced on them. It was the young kids who impressed in particular - Henderson and Martin full of energy and eager for work with by far the most tackles between them and Martin showing up time and again for carries.
But it was the all-round nature of the game which really impressed me. I’m still to watch it back again but I’m looking forward to rewatching Jonny McPhillips’s first half display especially.
Vicky McQueen had noticed this on commentary the previous weekend, but look at the way McPhillips stands flat to the gainline and offers threat himself. All-round, the midfield had a fine game - Scott and Moroni included - and created space for themselves and the likes of Potter (no coincidence he had his best game in a Tigers shirt) to finish off chances.
McPhillips’ distribution in that first period really excites - more variety than The Good Old Days. (Ask your parents.) Long, floated passes to both wingers, the odd pop-up to the forwards and the occasional flurry himself. Superb and while that was behind a pack going forwards and clearly part of the plan, this conductor had the orchestra in the palm of his hand. And yet that needs to be sustained over an 80-minute period.
The game plan to keep the ball alive may have been of interest to Ronan O’Gara though you could see Leicester being a bit more street-wise in the next pivotal six weeks ahead.
We know Tigers can play a set-piece game with box-kicking but if Tigers want an option with ambition more akin to the Hong Kong Sevens, then Welford Road might need a bigger boat.
That’s now four wins in six for Tigers in all competitions. Question for you…since Leicester are yet to beat the teams in the top four, how many wins should Tigers expect from the next six weeks?
FIXTURES LATEST
So fixtures largely confirmed for season…
Next Sunday - Bath (A)
April 24th - Northampton (H)
Apr 30/May 1 or 2nd - Ulster (H)
May 7th - Sale (A)
TBC - Harlequins (H)
May 21st - Challenge Cup Final
May 29th - Worcester (A)
June 5th - Bristol (H)
June 12th - Wasps (A)
Kick-off times on all the games via the Premiership website.
Why is Round 19 v Quins being left open?
Well, yes it is down to the following weekend’s European finals but only in part, I suspect. But do not get over-excited about what I have to say next.
Monday 17th May is when the Government is due to announce further easing of Covid-19 restrictions, which would then allow clubs to allow fans up to 25% of capacity with a huge-scale testing operation.
In an ideal world, you would move all the games that weekend to Monday night, as apparently rugby league already are doing. But the Challenge Cup Final which would be set in stone for the following Friday and a four-day turnaround is out of the question.
So Leicester (and Bath) make it through to the Challenge Cup Final, I am told not to expect any special dispensation to play Prem games on Sat 15th or Sun 16th. I would expect midweek matches for Round 19 and I am told that is what is being planned.
I would hope that a sensible compromise such as moving the Challenge Cup Final by 48 hours to Sunday would be appropriate in those circumstances, if Leicester or Bath did qualify for the final.
But it’s a nice problem to have and surely, we can work out a solution…time to sort this all out.
Let’s keep it chilled though, for now. We’re not there yet.
TYPICAL FRENCH..
1. So much flair..
2..Plus they're useless away from the sound of the church bells aren't they?
La Rogchelle v Leinster and Ntamack v Jalibert will hopefully be better entertainment…
CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
A six-try hammering at the Mennaye is what you would expect of Saracens but not so this season. Where the Men in Black may have nightmares of their trip to Cornwall, Ealing Trailfinders keep going with their 100% record. However, the 38-10 win may be a disappointment to the West London side as their average points total is now only 50 per game…
Saracens restored all their internationals bar Owen Farrell before their 7-try drubbing of Bedford and will now head to the other unbeaten side Doncaster who while they beat Jersey 22-10, missed out on another bonus point.
Which leaves the table like this…
Remember the top two play in a Final over two legs. Ealing still have to have their bye week but are looking good to finish top, which would mean the second leg at home (I believe).
Of course, one more defeat for Saracens means potentially an Ealing-Saracens one-off semi-final which would be rather tasty….but don’t put any money on that, even though Saracens now face Doncaster and Ealing on successive Sundays..
WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS
Another comprehensive win for England over Italy this time, which sees them safely into the final[ which will almost certainly be against France which is just what the organisers wanted.
A 67-3 victory is just what the doctor ordered in Parma too, after a stuttering first half which saw England level at the break.
Great to see Loughborough Lightning fly-half Helena Rowland (Below) pop up with a try of her own as was to see her clubmate and veteran captain Sarah Hunter.
CLUBS ARE BACK
How good is it to see on social media about so many clubs in Leicestershire and Rutland getting back into action after restrictions were lifted on grassroots sport (to an extent.
I notice Oadby Wyggs report excellent and better than expected numbers coming back to Oval Park, when they resumed at the end of March. I suspect they were not alone.
Also, Market Harborough RFC are to build a new stand/viewing platform in memory of their groundsman Jack Morris who passed away in January. Get in touch with the club if you want to help them realise that dream.
If you want to see your club featured on WRW, please contact me with your story - welfordroadweekly@substack.com
RUNNING FROM DEEP
It appears unlikely now that Steve Borthwick will be a member of the Lions coaching team if the tour goes ahead. Numerous reports including The Guardian, make that judgment with coaches likely to be confirmed tomorrow. The 36 man playing squad is going to be named in early May:
In a further blow to Gatland, Graham Rowntree and Steve Borthwick – both of whom served as coaches on the 2017 tour of New Zealand – are also thought to have had second thoughts at the 11th hour. As revealed by the Guardian, Gatland was set to snub candidates from Eddie Jones’s staff, meaning a Lions tour without any England coaches for the first time since 1997 despite the credentials of John Mitchell and the former Springboks assistant Matt Proudfoot.
It is thought that with the end of the Lions tour being around six weeks before the start of the Premiership season, Borthwick feels things are too tight with next season being so crucial to Tigers’ development.
Not surprisingly, Borthwick himself wouldn’t say anything on the subject on Saturday afternoon.
Former rugby league stars are set to launch the sport’s first dementia-related court case.
A group of 40 – all under 55 – are showing symptoms of the brain condition and blame concussions and head injuries suffered during their careers.
Many played in the elite Super League and plan to sue governing body the Rugby Football League for negligence.
“We’ve not changed since the way the sport started marketing itself back in the 1990s,” says Ged Colleypriest of Underdog Sports Marketing. Growing disgruntled with the same-old rugby approach, he set up his own agency.
“Take a look at any of the Gallagher Premiership or Pro14 jerseys. They are covered in logos. And the reason is because there is not the interest to charge a huge sum of money to one sponsor. So you’re constantly having to take on more sponsors for less and less money.
“But the reality is there is a whole digital world where you’ve got people spending time. That’s where the younger audiences are.”
It is fine saying the answer is right there, on the internet, but leveraging what you have is the real quiz.
Thanks again for your company. Back on Wednesday so until then, keep well…and see you for that pint..
Chris