Leicester Tigers Thread 2014/15 (+ Squad updates for 2015/16) Part 2

[Welly]

First topic message reminder :

Current Tables Positions:
AP: 3rd Losing SF to Bath
CC: Out (Group Stage)
LV: Out (Semi Final)
A League: 4th Northern Conference.
AP Sevens:
Academy AP U18 League: 2nd Northern Conference beating Bath on finals day to finish 3rd overall.

Next Game: V Argetnina (Welford road) 5th/6th September Time: TBD.

Senior Squad 2014/15: (Leaving), (Signed new deal) (Retiring)
Coaches: Cockerill (DOR), Blaze (Ass. Forwards), Blake (Defence + Skills Coach), Murphy (Ass.Backs)
1/3) Ayerza, Balmain, Bristow, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo
2) T.Youngs, Ghiraldini, Briggs, Thacker
4/5) Deacon, De Chaves, Kitchener, Parling, Peterson, Price, Slater, Thorn, Whetton
6/7/8) Barbieri, Crane, Croft, Gibson, Pearce, Salvi
9) Harrison, Mele, Youngs
10) Burns, Williams
12/13) Allen, Bai, Hepetema, Loamanu, Pohe, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi
11/14) Benjamin, Camacho, Goneva, Hamilton, Scully, Thompstone
15) Bell, Morris, Tait

2014/15 Development Squad: Oliver Bryant, George Catchpole, Jake Farnworth, Tom Hudson, Ed Milne, Will Owen, Aniseko Sio, George Tresidder, Rhys Williams.

2015/16 Senior Squad ATM: (New Signings)
Coaches: Cockerill (DOR), Mauger (HC), Hansen (Defence + Skills Coach), Blaze (Ass. Forwards), Murphy (Ass. Backs)
1/3) Ayerza, Balmain, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo
2) Youngs, Ghiraldini, Bateman, Thacker
4/5) De Chaves, Fitzgerald, Kitchener, Slater
6/7/8) Crane, Croft, Fonua, McCaffrey, O'Connor, Pearce, Williams
9) Harrison, Kitto, Youngs
10) Burns, Williams
12/13) Allen, Bai, Loamanu, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi
11/14) Benjamin, Betham, Camacho, Goneva, Thompstone
15) Bell, Morris, Tait

2015/16 Development Squad: N/A

New Deals 2014/14
Dan Cole (Long term)
Marcos Ayerza (3 years)
Tom Youngs (Long Term)
Owen Williams
Graham Kitchener
Fraser Balmain
Tiziano Pasquali
Harry Thacker
Riccardo Brugnara
Sam Harrison
Tom Croft
Niall Morris
Seb De Cheves
Mathew Tait
Niall Morris

Out Of Contract
Roberts
Camacho
Bell
Smith


Transfers in 2014/15:
Brad Thorn (Highlanders)
Tommy Bell (Jersey)
Jack Roberts (Rotherham Titans)
Aaron Mauger (Canterbury Crusaders)
Jack Whetton (ACT Brumbies)
Greg Peterson (Manly)

2015/16
Greg Bateman (Exeter)
Mike Williams (Warriors)
Mike Fitzgerald (Chiefs)
Opeti Fonua (Welsh)
Brendon O'Connor (Blues)
Peter Betham (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan McCaffrey (London Welsh)
Jono Kitto (Bay of Plenty + Cheifs Development Squad)

Transfers Out 2014/15:
Paul Burke (N/A)
Phil Blake (N/A)
Neil McCarthy (N?A)
Mathew Tait (Bayonne)
Tom Price (Scarlets)
Geoff Parling (Exeter)
Neil Briggs (Sale)
Julien Salvi (Exeter)
Pohe (USC)
Brad Thorn (Retirement)
Peterson (Glasgow)
Hamilton (Coventry)
Bristow (Wasps)
R.Williams (?)
Whetton
Hepetema


Rumours:
IN
Matt Todd -------> Leicester
Francois Hougaard ----> Leicester, Exeter Chiefs.
Maxime Mermoz ------> Leicester
Burrow ----------------> Leicester

Out
Allen (Retirement)
Manu (Toulouse, Saracens, Racing)
 

[king_carlos]

Fonau has been named in the Tonga squad - along with Steve Mafi also.

Rizzo is one of only 5 props still in Italy's expanded squad so is also almost certain to be at the RWC.

O'Connor and Kitto are involved with their respective ITM cup teams.

Owen Williams, Benjamin and Morris are still coming back from injury as far as I know? Manu is still struggling last I heard as well.

That to go with the obvious world cup absentees of Ayerza, T Youngs, Ghirildini, Cole, Mulipola, B Youngs and Goneva. Bai is in Fiji's 38 man squad so no confirmation there yet.

What side are we expecting for pre season? Below is the squad:

1.Brugnara, Sio
2.Bateman, Thacker
3.Balmain, Pasquali
4.Slater, De Chaves, Barrow
5.Kitchener, Fitzgerald
6.Croft, Williams
7.McCaffery, Thacker
8.Pearce, Crane

9.Harrison, Tresidder?
10.Burns, Bell

11.Betham
12.Roberts, Bryant
13.Loamanu, Catchpole, Smith
14.Thompstone
15.Tait, Bell

I'd like to see Roberts and Catchpole both given a go with a more experienced player beside them, i.e. 12.Roberts 13.Tait or 12.Loamanu 13.Catchpole.

In the forwards I'd really like to see Farnworth brought in for pre season at hooker so that we have the capacity to give Thacker a start at openside.

With Goneva on international duty, Camacho unconfirmed and Benjamin/Morris injured we could see Loamanu or Matt Smith on the wing.

[king_carlos]

Also, looking at Argentina's squad I notice that Camacho isn't in there. That means he won't have another chance to prove his fitness and form unless resigned for preseason or longer. I personally hope he resigns as he offers something different to our other wing options.

From years gone by Matera, Amorisino and Agulla are also involved.

[formerly known as Sam]

We also have the veteran prop/coach to cover the RWC as well. Parr wasn't it?

Camacho I hope gets sent to play in the Sevens. Would be a good opportunity to show his fitness and earn a new contract.

[Welly]

Fonua looking like he has lost a lot of fat this off season:

https://instagram.com/p/6l7q5MkZr4bZ5xLqwuZBcuZkgWev1yeeCKIvU0/

Sounds like on RL he is thriving in the challenge training Leicester are doing.

Fitness was the main worry with him and it has been addressed by the looks of it.

Can't wait. Fortunately the WC in England means we can keep an eye on him.

[nathan]

Hopefully he's still as destructive

[formerly known as Sam]

He still looks monster sized and to be fair when he played for London Welsh his work rate was pretty good it seemed to be his fitness that let him down. Be interesting to see how he goes for Tonga before coming over to us. Would have been nice to have him on board all of preseason as we do like our tight game and he'll need to show his lifting, scrummaging and mauling skills.

[Welly]

Kitto had a good game this morning.

I think it is working out alright with him at ITM he gets good game time there and we can have Harrison and Tresidder getting game time here, hopefully we will have 3 scrum halves all match fit and plenty game time ready for the season.

O'Connor starting tomorrow.

Guess for Argentina game sounds like we will have a team of:

1) Ayerza/Brugnara
2) Bateman
3) Balmain
4) Fitzgerald
5) Kitchener
6) Croft/Williams
7) McCaffrey
8) Crane
9) Harrison
10) Burns
11) Betham
12) Bai
13) Camacho
14) Thomsptone
15) Tait

16)Thacker
17) Bruganra/Sio/Parr
18) Tiz
19) Williams/De Chaves
20) Pearce
21) Tresidder
22) Bell
23) Loamanu/Catchpole/Smith/Roberts.

I reckon Bai will prob start ahead of Roberts and Camacho will prob start to prove fitness etc.

[Welly]

Leicester linked to a SA player (not mentioned).

NOT Olivier or Steyn.

De Villiers mentioned.

De Jongh would be amazing still out of super rugby contract and Meyer will prob snub him again.

Can't think of many other Backs that will be out of contract.

Francois Hougaard signed with a Japan rugby team but will be free between that.

Could be a lesser known player or might be a forward though.

[formerly known as Sam]

Big Bok prop on short term contract?

Mauger didn't say we'd necessarily sign a centre so it could be a full back. Don't know anyone available mind. I was hoping he'd know a gem or two from the ITM. The next Milner Scudder before a Super 15 team does.

[Welly]

Cockers did say we are trusting the youngsters @ prop so might not be after an old SA prop then.

[Welly]

Also seems Wells is still around the Leicester set up was with them on the timber sports training day thing.

Wonder what the situation is with him?

[formerly known as Sam]

He's a player with potential. Needs to decide whether to continue bulking up and become a lock or work on his speed and be a blindside. I imagine he'll be loaned back to the Championship again.

I'm glad we're backing the young props. There's talent there and it needs game time. We need to get Pasquali in with a Championship side for regular game time next season after the RWC period.

[hugehandoff]

Is Manu fit and in training?

[LondonTiger]

Is Manu fit and in training?

Depends on who you listen to. I suspect the answers are no and kind of.

[LondonTiger]

In other news, delays in the clubhouse end development mean that season ticket holders in the new stand (ie me) will be in random locations for at least the first two AP games as well as the man sausage of the North..

[formerly known as Sam]

Manu is training but not fully fit. Last Cockers said it was a frustrating groin injury that they just have to wait and work with there's no quick surgery fix.

I'm slightly confused how we can build the secind biggest free standing stand in the country in one summer but this build is dragging. I hope the club are getting a discount on this.

[LondonTiger]

They started earlier on Cat stand (or whatever it is now) a few games at the end of the season were over at the Crisp Bowl I seem to remember. Also access was a lot easier as all the equipment could be in the car park etc.

[Welly]

They had a change of contracted I think, also had a problem with the ground (which isn't unusual).

Apparently the steel will be put in next week.

[Welly]

Fonua with 4 tries against Notts for Tonga last night.

First Tiger game next week.

If following other preseason games we will have roughly 25/26/27/28 players playing.

Would like to see a squad of:
1) Brugnara
2) Bateman
3) Balmain
4) Fitzgerald
5) Kitchener
6) Croft
7) McCaffrey
8) Crane (c)
9) Harrison
10) Burns
11) Betham
12) Roberts
13) Camacho
14) Thompstone
15) Tait

16) Thacker
17) Ayerza
18) Sio
19) Pas
20) De Chaves
21) Williams
22) Pearce
23) Tresidder
24) Bai
25) Catchpole
26) Loamanu
27) Bell
28) Smith

[formerly known as Sam]

I'd prefer Camacho stuck to the wing and we used Smith and Catchpole as the outside centres.

[Welly]

But then I prefer Thompstone and Betham on the wing I think Camacho needs to start to prove fitness and because it is against Argentina IMO.

[formerly known as Sam]

Give Camacho, Betham, Thompstone and Loamano half a game each. I don't see the problem with rotation in the first game of pre season. Maybe even a different fifteen in each half. We'll have Ayerza playing a half for each side so might as well name two sides and let the younger guys have a chance to stake a claim against international opposition.

First/second
1. Ayerza/Brugnara
2. Bateman/Thacker
3. Balmain/Pasquali
4. Fitzgerald/Barrow
5. Kitchener/de Chaves
6. Croft/Williams
7. Mac/Owen
8. Crane/Pearce
9. Harrison/Tresidder
10. Burns/Bryant
11. Betham/Loamano
12. Roberts/Bai
13. Catchpole/Smith
14. Thompstone/Camacho
15. Tait/Bell

If you know the lineups early they can prepare as units in the lead up to the game as well.

[Guest]

Will Marcos definitely be playing half the match for Tigers? I know it's been going around for a while but I thought it was based purely on him saying he would like to switch at half time when the match was announced. Not sure the UAR will be happy with that.

[Welly]

Will Marcos definitely be playing half the match for Tigers? I know it's been going around for a while but I thought it was based purely on him saying he would like to switch at half time when the match was announced. Not sure the UAR will be happy with that.

Don't think it is def Marcos said he was going to play for both, but if it happens is a another thing.

[screamingaddabs]

Surely playing prop for both sides ould make lineouts interesting as he would know the calls for both teams...

[formerly known as Sam]

He'd know the line out calls for both teams anyway.

[broadlandboy]

Would he know the Tigers calls having not trained with them lately & IMSVHO (I hope anyway) that they have changed since Parling left, if not heaven help us when we play Exeter

[Welly]

TBH Marcos isn't that sort of person to use it in an advantageous way in his testimonial and friendy it would also have no benefit for both line out teams if you no the calls before hand.

[broadlandboy]

Personally it would be a great benefit to know how your team reacts to turnover ball from a lineout, both attacking & defending.

[Welly]

Personally it would be a great benefit to know how your team reacts to turnover ball from a lineout, both attacking & defending.

Not as much as having a competactive lineout to go against.

[George Carlin]

https://www.606v2.com/t60323-welcome-to-the-new-aviva-pro-12-season-your-help-needed

[king_carlos]

As expected Cockers has stated that most of the remaining squad will get a run out at the weekend. Camacho will be starting as expected but nothing more than that anounced.

Personally I agree fkaS on Camacho, i.e. I'd prefer him on the wing. On merit from last season Thompstone deserves to start and Betham also does on talent. However it's preseason and all three will be involved at one point in the match anyway so I'd give Gonzo a start. I'd also like to see Loamanu given a start at 13 if Manu is still struggling with his groin.

Is Slater injured again or has it been announced he won't be involved against Arg?

1.Brugnara
2.Bateman
3.Balmain
4.Slater
5.Kitch
6.Croft
7.McCaffery
8.Crane

9.Harrison
10.Burns

11.Thompstone
12.Roberts
13.Loamanu
14.Camacho
15.Tait

16.Thacker - I'd love Farnworth to be called up for pre-season so Harry could be used at 7
17.Sio
18.Pasquali
19.De Chaves
20.Fitzgerald
21.Williams
22.Pearce
23.Tresidder
24.Bai
25.Catchpole
26.Smith
27.Betham
28.Bell

[Welly]

Heard today that Crane and Williams might be injured for a while.

Slater prob won't be playing for the preseason.

[king_carlos]

Heard today that Crane and Williams might be injured for a while.

Slater prob won't be playing for the preseason.

That would be a real shame for Crane as he will probably need to take every chance he gets with Fonau and Pearce nipping at his heels.

Owen or Mike?

Is it due to another injury that Slater isn't playing or is he just being rested?

[Welly]

Mike

Slater knee (I think) isn't and wasn't 100% taking our time with him.

[Welly]

although it might have been about Owen I think.

Can't remember.

Will find out when team is announced.

[formerly known as Sam]

Owen is still injured from his nasty injury last season, likely to be him. Mike has been training in the pre season pics so you'd assume he's ok.

[king_carlos]

That's understandable with Slater given he was out for last season and he's so key for us. With Kitch, Fitzgerald, De Chaves and Barrow we are well stocked for a pre-season anyway. I was looking forward to seeing how all the RWC boot camp fitness training had affected Slater's game though!

I was under the impression that Owen and Morris wouldn't make the start of the season, probably not until next year for Niall sadly. In that regard hopefully it's Owen as it will be good to see the contrast in our play between having Croft or MW at blindside.

[Welly]

Barrow might not be match fit just yet, not sure.

Think Benjamin might be out start of season as well.

[Welly]

Leicester Tigers
15 Mathew Tait (c)
14 Peter Betham
13 Christian Loamanu
12 George Catchpole
11 Gonzalo Camacho
10 Tommy Bell
9 Sam Harrison
1 Riccardo Brugnara
2 Greg Bateman
3 Tiziano Pasquali
4 Joe Maksymiw
5 Sebastian de Chaves
6 Mike Fitzgerald
7 Will Owen
8 Laurence Pearce

Replacements: Fraser Balmain, Charlie Beckett, Will Evans, Jake Farnworth, Owen Hills, Graham Kitchener, Lachlan McCaffrey, Ed Milne, Matt Parr, Oliver Povoas, Harry Thacker, Harry Wells, Seremaia Bai, Oli Bryant, Freddie Burns, Paolo Odogwu, Matt Smith, Adam Thompstone, George Tresidder, Ben White, George Worth

Los Pumas
15 Joaquín Tuculet
14 Santiago Cordero
13 Marcelo Bosch
12 Juan Martín Hernández
11 Juan Imhoff
10 Nicolás Sánchez
9 Tomás Cubelli (c)
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Julián Montoya
3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal
5 Tomás Lavanini
6 Javier Ortega Desio
7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
8 Facundo Isa

Replacements: 16 Lucas Noguera, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Matías Alemanno, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Lucas González Amorosino, 24 Leonardo Senatore, 25 Pablo Matera, 26 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 27 Matías Moroni, 28 Juan Pablo Socino, 29 Horacio Agulla

[formerly known as Sam]

Looks like we'll have a fairly strong side in both halves. Catchpole at 12 is an interesting call, his distribution is his key weakness so it'll be interesting to see what changes Mauger has made to his game. I hope Bryant gets a go at 12 I think he is the one Mauger could develop into a real classy centre eventually in the mould of Howard, Gibson and Mauger himself.

Everyone is getting a go upfront. Some young guys there should really be going all guns blazing to prove themselves early in this preseason as places could be up for grabs.

[LondonTiger]

Time for a 15/16 thread?

[Welly]

Done.

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