Anglo - Welsh cup this weekend.

[Puja]

I was more bemoaning the current quality of Leicester's academy than the competition. Out of the young players that played yesterday, White will be a Leicester regular in the future and Wells and Thacker will probably be squad players. The others? Eh...

Compare that to Saracens' team this weekend where you'd bet on 5-8 still being in the Sarries squad in 5 years' time and that's adding onto the number of home-grown players already in their first XV.


On the bright side, did anyone see that nice little dummy play that Leicester ran last night? Ball at the back of the ruck, the scrum half ran round, bent down, picked up the empty space behind the ball and sprinted off to the hole outside the guard, even dummying a dummy with his empty hands, while a forward picked and went with the actual ball. Sadly it didn't work as they picked the wrong moment to try it when Glaws had 3 players ruck-inspecting and so the one man drawn away by the scrum-half didn't leave a gap. Ironically, it's a move more likely to work against better opposition. I think Eddie should have a look at stealing it - it'd be perfect for Youngs and even if it didn't make a bust, it'd focus the fringe defence's minds inwards and leave more space for when Youngs does pick and go.

Puja

[Digby]

So was the ball out of the ruck when they ran the dummy or not?

Seems daft on the face of it as you'd have to wait until the ball was out of the ruck, and then you'd have your acting half running away from the ball whilst the ref is free to shout 'ball's out'

[Puja]

So was the ball out of the ruck when they ran the dummy or not?

Seems daft on the face of it as you'd have to wait until the ball was out of the ruck, and then you'd have your acting half running away from the ball whilst the ref is free to shout 'ball's out'

It was at the back of the ruck. So the scrum half ran in, made as if to pick up the ball and attack the defensive line, but in fact didn't touch it at all and ran away with an imaginary ball in his hands. While eyes followed the scrum-half, someone following close behind picked and went round the corner, in theory where there should've been a gap from the guard following the scrum half. It didn't work for us because Glaws had three people having a rest on the side of the ruck and also the man coming in behind was the hooker rather than someone quick, but it looked very slick and I could definitely see it working if deployed in a more appropriate situation.

Puja

[Digby]

So was the ball out of the ruck when they ran the dummy or not?

Seems daft on the face of it as you'd have to wait until the ball was out of the ruck, and then you'd have your acting half running away from the ball whilst the ref is free to shout 'ball's out'

It was at the back of the ruck. So the scrum half ran in, made as if to pick up the ball and attack the defensive line, but in fact didn't touch it at all and ran away with an imaginary ball in his hands. While eyes followed the scrum-half, someone following close behind picked and went round the corner, in theory where there should've been a gap from the guard following the scrum half. It didn't work for us because Glaws had three people having a rest on the side of the ruck and also the man coming in behind was the hooker rather than someone quick, but it looked very slick and I could definitely see it working if deployed in a more appropriate situation.

Puja

When you say at the back at the ruck it was still in? If so all Tigers have done is commit an offence surely?

[Puja]

It was still in. How do you figure it's an offence? It wasn't a dummy from the base - it was a player looking like he's picked up the ball and in fact someone else has.

I'll see whether I can get a video, cause this is confusing trying to explain it in words.

Puja

[Digby]

If the ball is in a ruck you're not allowed to take any action to make the defending side think the ball is out if it's still in, ruck feigning is punishable by a freekick. A video would be good, as I think on the face of it all that's happened is the ref has fecked up

[Digby]

16.4 (f) - A player must not take any action to make the opposing team think that the ball is out of the ruck while it is still in the ruck.
Sanction: Free Kick

The only way I see around that is for the ball to be out, and then as above your 9 or acting half is running away from the ball when the ref might well shout 'ball's out' which even if the defending team aren't paying attention might cause a problem

[Tigersman]

Leicester game was mildly entertaining to watch, although I suspect a lot of that lot may deservedly be plying their trade at Nottingham and London Irish in a few years time, rather than testing England or even Leicester squads. Will Evans was good without being outstanding and definitely needs more first team action. Charlie Thacker was a well deserved MotM but I still can't shake the feeling that he's got nothing outstanding about him. Maybe he'll grow up to be another Matt Smith, which nothing to be sniffed at. Fred Tuilagi is big, but he slows before contact so he doesn't make the best of it and he looked terrified when he found himself in about 20m of space with a 2-on-2. Simmons was okay, but his service was shown up by the speed of White when he came off the bench. I thought Pakalani was a teenager when watching him, but a google tells me he's 28! He's got a lot of rough edges for a 28 year old.

Basically, it was nice to win, but Dusty Hare's return cannot start bearing fruit quickly enough.

Puja

Pakalani is 25.

Think your being a bit harsh on some.
Thought Worth and Thacker together looked good.
Simmons had a solid game for his debut.
Agree with Fred.

Suffered from not playing the last 2 a league games and we look rusty.

RE the Simmons thing for me the Ball was technically out of the ruck wasn't it? looking at where the ball is in relation to the back leg of the Tigers player.

[Puja]

Leicester game was mildly entertaining to watch, although I suspect a lot of that lot may deservedly be plying their trade at Nottingham and London Irish in a few years time, rather than testing England or even Leicester squads. Will Evans was good without being outstanding and definitely needs more first team action. Charlie Thacker was a well deserved MotM but I still can't shake the feeling that he's got nothing outstanding about him. Maybe he'll grow up to be another Matt Smith, which nothing to be sniffed at. Fred Tuilagi is big, but he slows before contact so he doesn't make the best of it and he looked terrified when he found himself in about 20m of space with a 2-on-2. Simmons was okay, but his service was shown up by the speed of White when he came off the bench. I thought Pakalani was a teenager when watching him, but a google tells me he's 28! He's got a lot of rough edges for a 28 year old.

Basically, it was nice to win, but Dusty Hare's return cannot start bearing fruit quickly enough.

Puja

Pakalani is 25.

Think your being a bit harsh on some.
Thought Worth and Thacker together looked good.
Simmons had a solid game for his debut.
Agree with Fred.

Suffered from not playing the last 2 a league games and we look rusty.

RE the Simmons thing for me the Ball was technically out of the ruck wasn't it? looking at where the ball is in relation to the back leg of the Tigers player.

Our website says he was born 02/08/1989, which makes him 28: https://www.leicestertigers.com/player/afa-pakalani

Puja

[Tigersman]

Leicester game was mildly entertaining to watch, although I suspect a lot of that lot may deservedly be plying their trade at Nottingham and London Irish in a few years time, rather than testing England or even Leicester squads. Will Evans was good without being outstanding and definitely needs more first team action. Charlie Thacker was a well deserved MotM but I still can't shake the feeling that he's got nothing outstanding about him. Maybe he'll grow up to be another Matt Smith, which nothing to be sniffed at. Fred Tuilagi is big, but he slows before contact so he doesn't make the best of it and he looked terrified when he found himself in about 20m of space with a 2-on-2. Simmons was okay, but his service was shown up by the speed of White when he came off the bench. I thought Pakalani was a teenager when watching him, but a google tells me he's 28! He's got a lot of rough edges for a 28 year old.

Basically, it was nice to win, but Dusty Hare's return cannot start bearing fruit quickly enough.

Puja

Pakalani is 25.

Think your being a bit harsh on some.
Thought Worth and Thacker together looked good.
Simmons had a solid game for his debut.
Agree with Fred.

Suffered from not playing the last 2 a league games and we look rusty.

RE the Simmons thing for me the Ball was technically out of the ruck wasn't it? looking at where the ball is in relation to the back leg of the Tigers player.

Our website says he was born 02/08/1989, which makes him 28: https://www.leicestertigers.com/player/afa-pakalani

Puja

Our website also says
Pakalani made his Super Rugby debut with the Waratahs as a teenager in 2011
If he is 28 then how could he be a teenager when he made his Tahs debut in 2011? as that would've made him 21/22.

Also in our press release they say 25
https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/ti ... i-to-squad

So one way or another the club is wrong. (nothing new).

[Puja]

If the ball is in a ruck you're not allowed to take any action to make the defending side think the ball is out if it's still in, ruck feigning is punishable by a freekick. A video would be good, as I think on the face of it all that's happened is the ref has fecked up

Your wish is my highly amateurish command:



On second viewing, I think you're right - it is definitely a free-kick. Shame though, cause it was neatly done by the 9 and I could definitely see a more polished version working, but it is definitely illegal. Oh well, never mind.

Puja

[Raggs]

It would be difficult to actually pull off. I think the scrum half would need to pick it up, and flick it to the next guy coming the other way. Would probably need to be a busy ruck too, to provide some cover.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah - or I guess you could have two players breaking from the back of the ruck almost simultaneously? As long as the player with the ball moves first (however marginally), the ball would then definitely be out of the ruck and as long as the player making the dummy run doesn't impede a tackler, it would be legal. As long as the dummy runner is only a decoy to attract attention rather than contact, I think it's OK?

Good to see Simon Uzokwe make his Falcons debut in the Ricoh try-fest.The student international has been a try machine at Darlington and bagged a brace today.
Flanker at the moment, he's come through from playing centre and hooker as a junior. An exciting prospect.

Uzokwe has been hyped for a while, but I've never actually seen him play. Uzokwe and Isiekwe in the same team could be a commentator's nightmare.

[Scrumhead]

In other news Chisholm and Walker are late drop-outs of the Quins side. The plus of seeing Ibitoye make his senior debut is definitely negated by the prospect of seeing more of Ben Glynn at 6 . Bang average lock and DEFINITELY not a flanker.

[Mellsblue]

Visser at 15 may be even more amusing.

Adam Powell coaching Sarries. In p/d’s continued absence I’ll tout him for the England job.

[Puja]

Uzokwe has been hyped for a while, but I've never actually seen him play. Uzokwe and Isiekwe in the same team could be a commentator's nightmare.

That'd be a great one to take to the SH to try and break the commentators. You could have a back five of Onojaife, Isiekwe, Itoje, Uzokwe, and Jones, just to screw with them.

In other news Chisholm and Walker are late drop-outs of the Quins side. The plus of seeing Ibitoye make his senior debut is definitely negated by the prospect of seeing more of Ben Glynn at 6 . Bang average lock and DEFINITELY not a flanker.

I've actually thought Glynn looked okay when I've seen him play for Quins. I mean, hardly international quality, but certainly better than some of the back rows that Leicester have put out.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

I take it back about Visser. To the manor born.

Harry Sloan for England. Always rated him.

[Scrumhead]

Lovely dummy and offload from Lang as well

[Mellsblue]

It was.

[Mellsblue]

In both p/d’s and Michael Fallon’s absence, the lady running the line is pretty attractive.

[Mellsblue]

You’ve got to feel Quins’ front five when you look at their opposite numbers.

[Mellsblue]

Whiteley still kicking the ball away too much. As he did at Bedford.

[Puja]

Whiteley still kicking the ball away too much. As he did at Bedford.

His passing hasn't been anything to shout about either. Where's Henry Taylor - is he still about?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Whiteley still kicking the ball away too much. As he did at Bedford.

His passing hasn't been anything to shout about either. Where's Henry Taylor - is he still about?

Puja

He is. Whether he’s injured or not I don’t know. Taylor was quality at Bedford.

[Scrumhead]

Good try there from Quins. Elia has been decent today and that was a tidy finish from Alofa.