Aviva Premiership Final Preview - Leicester vs Northampton

First topic message reminder :

Saturday 25th May
Twickenham
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Well the Sold-Out signs have now gone up as demonstrated by captains Toby Flood and Dylan Hartley, and with most tickets in the hands of neutrals I suspect that most support will be for Northampton (is it me or does this picture look photo-shopped?):

Spoiler:

Expected Teams

Leicester
Mulipola, Youngs, Cole, Kitchener, Parling, Croft, Salvi, Crane, Youngs, Flood, Thompstone/Goneva, Allen, Tuilagi, Morris, Tait.

Northampton
Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Mujati, Lawes, Day, Clark, Wood, Manoa, Dickson, Myler, Elliot, Burrell, Pisi, Pisi, Foden


Match-Ups

Front Row - With Ayerza playing, Tigers have had a clear advantage over saints over the last two years. Mulipola though is not the technician that the Argentinian is, but he is strong and should be able to gain parity with Mooj. On the other side much will depend on the ref. If he allows tiny to swing out and drive inwards as he did against Sarries the Cole could struggle. If he is kept straight, then Cole has shown in the past that he can make life very difficult for Saint's departing talisman. Tom youngs will need to be on top of his game when it comes to lineouts, but expect a hell of a battle between two people who right now are competing for the bench spot for the first Lions test.

Second Row - Geoff Parling is a lock forward under-rated by fans, but loved by coaches and fellow players. Should he be partnered by Graham Kitchener, Tigers may lose a little physicality compared to Slater (who may still be injured and not risked as a starter even if fit) but gain in other areas. Courtney Lawes form has improved as the season has progressed and will look to make a real impact. His likely partner, Day, is not the most prominent second row but is highly effective.

Back Row - Northampton are likely to start with a highly physical and combative back row, looking to smash Tigers back at every opportunity. With the pace of Croft and a genuine openside in Salvi, Tigers will hope to gain an advantage here, but if they are unable to match Saints the whole match gets very interesting.

Half Backs - Ben Youngs and Toby Flood should have the experience and class to help this become a defining aspect of the game. Should tigers pack be on the front foot expect to see them keeping the tempo high and really running at Saints, whilst when Saints are in possession we can expect to see Youngs really harrying Dickson. Should Myler be sending out too many floaty passes, Flood will be looking for the intercept. Dickson is the heartbeat of the Saints team. If he is prominent their forwards will have done a job and he will be driving the team forwards. Stephen Myler, who will be buoyed by his call up to the England squad, bneeds to keep things simple, kick his goals and reduce mistakes to the minimum. With big runners outside he can rely on them to do the work.

Centres - Leroy burrell (another called up by Lancaster) and George Pisi against Allen and Manu. Mouth watering clash. George Pisi is sheer class, but will not want to remember the last meeting when Manu burned him for pace. Leicester need to look to get Manu in the game a little more, Saints will be marking him closely.

Back 3 - Both teams are better in attack than defence in the back 3. Matt Tait has improved his handling of the high ball immeasurably since December and is on a hot vein of form. Saints cannot afford to kick badly to him. Opposite number Foden has had a miserable season, Tigers fans will not want him to find form on the big day. Tigers will look to expose Elliots lack of physicality, Saints will hope his speed and elusive running hold sway.



Form
Tigers usual post 6Ns, end of season rush had an uncommon blip when they lost narrowly in Bath. Otherwise form has been excellent having won their other 6 matches since the 6Ns (and the 5 immediately before them). Saints performance levels have been up and down - veering between the excellent such as ending Ulster's unbeaten start to the season in Belfast to the crazy when being thrashed by London Irish. Recent form has seen them win 7 of their last 9 matches. They will though want to forget one of those defeats - by 28pts at home to tigers. that was the 7th win in a row for Leicester over East Midlands rivals. Tigers have a poor record in finals in recent times, but will hope to extend their streak to 8 matches.

That didn't look like a penalty to me, just looked like a good hit that came a fraction after the ball went.

Good to see Flood is ok

Ben Youngs kicking for goal?

Can't Tait or Allen kick?

Didn't know Youngs was much of a place kicker

Cockers is a t i t!

Think Lawes was unlucky to be penalised there. Flood unlucky to connect with his teammates knee as well, hope it doesn't affect his game.

Leicester backrow needs to protect Flood for the next 5 minutes

Flood creamed twice from Saints tackling. Not looking the full shilling at the moment. Ford needs to come on.

Nah It's a penalty. Lawes drops his head and just goes. He's a couple of metres away and decides ball or not It's big hit time. The ball is long gone so It's a penalty. No forward passes up the opportunity to rough up the opposition 10.

Looks like he's roughed him up well.

Barnes is making a mess if the lineout, both sides should not be stepping in. Gifting Saints a try hasn't earnt him any fans in this house either.

And they make right decision. Off for concussion exam.

Lawes with a hit on Flood again!

Concussion break right decision Toby looks very groggy.

Big game for Ford to be introduced into.

Youngs used to be a fly-half

Saints butchered a good chance there I thought.

Flood gone for match.

Barnes looks to be favouring Tiggers in the set piece here. If I was a Saints fan I wouldn't be overly impressed with his refereeing of the scrum.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Nah It's a penalty. Lawes drops his head and just goes. He's a couple of metres away and decides ball or not It's big hit time. The ball is long gone so It's a penalty. No forward passes up the opportunity to rough up the opposition 10.

Looks like he's roughed him up well.

Barnes is making a mess if the lineout, both sides should not be stepping in. Gifting Saints a try hasn't earnt him any fans in this house either.

Can't agree with that, Lawes is committed to the tackle when it's still in Flood's hands. He may have been shaping to pass, but he hadn't passed and he'd delayed or dummied when shaping a number of times before. Margin call and can understand why is was given, but was wrong in this instance and if the review had been called it wouldn't have been given.

Great break from Tait!

Youngs taking a beat before every pass. Costing Tigers gain line momentum.

Leicester are missing Flood already

He was magnificent vs SA a few years ago and kicked us to victory.

Well done young Ford with his first penalty.

13-5 to tigers

Timhen there's ample time and space for him to pull out. There's nothing on his mind but the big hit and he must have known if he doesn't take man and ball It's a penalty. He wanted to rough up Flood end of.

Ford can't give the pass as there's half the Saints pack offside, no yc?

Sorry Sam, but you are wrong about the Lawes tackle on Flood. had it have been Croft on Myler you would be saying it was fine.

Have Saints come back with a try?

TMO checking last pass and grounding.

Try Saints surely?

Difficult one to call for TMO. Looks like Foden was held up and foot put into touch before he got ball down?

TMO decides no try. 22 drop out.

Saints making lots of ground down the left short-side in this match.

Tuilagi and Tom Youngs aren't doing their Lions chances much good, Hartley is.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Timhen there's ample time and space for him to pull out. There's nothing on his mind but the big hit and he must have known if he doesn't take man and ball It's a penalty. He wanted to rough up Flood end of.

Ford can't give the pass as there's half the Saints pack offside, no yc?

Don't agree with you at all, his head was down and he was already launching himself before Flood had passed, that is an impossible position to pull out from. I'm sure it'll be raised again a few more times in studios on slow mo and the pundits will continue to agree it wasn't a penalty.

Can't believe most people would have Jones over Cole for the Lions.

Cole all day long for me.

Saints contributing to making it a good game, but still can't see past a Tigers win at this stage.

How many times did Barnes say ' You can't kick it out?' Just bloody stupid play.

Red card for Hartley!!

Called the ref a "fcuking cheat" I think.

And that's it confirmed.

Stupid be Myler - the ref told him not to kick is straight out

I think he tried to knock it along the floor

AND A RED CARD FOR HARTLEY

What an IDIOT, the ref told him to shut his mouth.

timhen wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Timhen there's ample time and space for him to pull out. There's nothing on his mind but the big hit and he must have known if he doesn't take man and ball It's a penalty. He wanted to rough up Flood end of.

Ford can't give the pass as there's half the Saints pack offside, no yc?

Don't agree with you at all, his head was down and he was already launching himself before Flood had passed, that is an impossible position to pull out from. I'm sure it'll be raised again a few more times in studios on slow mo and the pundits will continue to agree it wasn't a penalty.

Agree absolutely. He was committed whilst Flood still had the ball.

And Hartley manages to prove why he's a liability once again. Red card for swearing at Wayne Barnes for his penalty decision against Saints.

What an absolute idiot

Northampton would have been better off literally shooting all their players in the foot than playing the end of that half.

LE 6 week ban for that. Will he be going on Lions?

HammerofThunor wrote:LE 6 week ban for that. Will he be going on Lions?

Looks like he'll miss it now.

So the Lions options for replacement hooker are a indisciplined lout or a inexperienced player who can't throw straight

Rory Best is crying with laughter and sadness...

Looks like Rory Best might get his look in...

HammerofThunor wrote:LE 6 week ban for that. Will he be going on Lions?

Good point

Swearing at a ref will give him a heavy ban

RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST RORY BEST

Saints.

If he's been red-carded, can a ban still be given?

Even if you think the ref is killing your team you remain nothing but civil. A massive error from Hartley. He even had a warning. We were all taught not to answer back to the ref before we learned to pass. He was very good in the loose for them as well.

Tuilagi and Tom Youngs aren't doing their Lions chances much good

Dunno about Manu, he got caught out once by a classy bit of backs play. Has otherwise played pretty well. Tom Youngs is having a good game other than at the lineout where he's made a couple of crap throws.

What happened? Watching on setanta in HK with no sound and don't know what's going on???

Madness

What is it with Dylan Hartley? He's had enough incidents to know better. He said he was getting some kind of counselling in relation to anger/indiscipline issues, and he still trips the switch.

Was he talking to Barnes or accusing one of the Tiger players?

Pot Hale wrote:

timhen wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Timhen there's ample time and space for him to pull out. There's nothing on his mind but the big hit and he must have known if he doesn't take man and ball It's a penalty. He wanted to rough up Flood end of.

Ford can't give the pass as there's half the Saints pack offside, no yc?

Don't agree with you at all, his head was down and he was already launching himself before Flood had passed, that is an impossible position to pull out from. I'm sure it'll be raised again a few more times in studios on slow mo and the pundits will continue to agree it wasn't a penalty.

Agree absolutely. He was committed whilst Flood still had the ball.

And Hartley manages to prove why he's a liability once again. Red card for swearing at Wayne Barnes for his penalty decision against Saints.

Lads I think it was a yellow. He was committed to nailing Flood and got him after the ball was gone. Its like a soccer challenge, you have to time it right especially big tackles.

Pot Hale wrote:If he's been red-carded, can a ban still be given?

Red cards trigger an automatic citing hearing. They may decide that effectively ending any chance Saints had in the final is punishment enough. They may decide to send a message that you can't abuse officials or call the cheats. Especially if he had said other things during the game.