Prem Cup - Leicester vs Exeter

[Puja]

Just finished watching this game - very good result for Tigers at 27-7. We look so much better from last season. Granted, this wasn't a first team game, but it was a pretty strong Exeter side and nothing to be sniffed at. Mostly, the attitude was what impressed - players ran supporting lines like they believed the break might come and attacked rucks in a way that was completely absent last year. We looked like a side that believed, whereas last season we were sometimes beaten before we got onto the pitch.

The defence was a massive difference as well - we kept our line together, hunted in packs, and made our tackles (the first 10 minutes from Eastmond where he did an impression of a turnstile notwithstanding). It's a little harsh to criticise last year, as we had a crap pre-season, binned everything after one game, went without defensive coaching for a while, then brought in someone to try and patch the leaks mid-season. This was a side who had had a full pre-season, with a plan and a defensive ethos instilled by a good coach, and we looked much better for it.

As for the players, Calum Green looks to be a good influence - his workrate was phenomenal and he was a nuisance in the rucks and in the lineout. He's come back better from being away and I think he's rubbing off on Wells, who was also good. Coglan looks like a good find as a squad 8 and Liebenberg shows promise, albeit nothing outstanding in that game. Reid has some very nice touches in the backs, although he was clearly a 12 covering 10. Forsyth looks better than I remember him being when he last left. Only major downside was Sam Harrison who appears to have lost all form with slow and inconsistent service combined with some awful box-kicks.

Mustn't get carried away with one pre-season game involved mixed A/B sides, but that is just so much better. More of that please Geordan!

Puja

[fivepointer]

Yes, Tigers looked in good order. Defensively sound, decent line out and some good attacking moments. Scrum not so good, though. Think Green might turn out to be a very good acquisition. He's a really solid, consistent premiership player.
Exeter had a lot of ball, got into good positions but actually created very little. They made a lot of errors and, unusually, had a badly misfiring line out. The new SA No 8 was very good.

[Stom]

Just finished watching this game - very good result for Tigers at 27-7. We look so much better from last season. Granted, this wasn't a first team game, but it was a pretty strong Exeter side and nothing to be sniffed at. Mostly, the attitude was what impressed - players ran supporting lines like they believed the break might come and attacked rucks in a way that was completely absent last year. We looked like a side that believed, whereas last season we were sometimes beaten before we got onto the pitch.

The defence was a massive difference as well - we kept our line together, hunted in packs, and made our tackles (the first 10 minutes from Eastmond where he did an impression of a turnstile notwithstanding). It's a little harsh to criticise last year, as we had a crap pre-season, binned everything after one game, went without defensive coaching for a while, then brought in someone to try and patch the leaks mid-season. This was a side who had had a full pre-season, with a plan and a defensive ethos instilled by a good coach, and we looked much better for it.

As for the players, Calum Green looks to be a good influence - his workrate was phenomenal and he was a nuisance in the rucks and in the lineout. He's come back better from being away and I think he's rubbing off on Wells, who was also good. Coglan looks like a good find as a squad 8 and Liebenberg shows promise, albeit nothing outstanding in that game. Reid has some very nice touches in the backs, although he was clearly a 12 covering 10. Forsyth looks better than I remember him being when he last left. Only major downside was Sam Harrison who appears to have lost all form with slow and inconsistent service combined with some awful box-kicks.

Mustn't get carried away with one pre-season game involved mixed A/B sides, but that is just so much better. More of that please Geordan!

Puja

He's just been learning off Youngs!

[Shiny]

Just finished watching this game - very good result for Tigers at 27-7. We look so much better from last season. Granted, this wasn't a first team game, but it was a pretty strong Exeter side and nothing to be sniffed at. Mostly, the attitude was what impressed - players ran supporting lines like they believed the break might come and attacked rucks in a way that was completely absent last year. We looked like a side that believed, whereas last season we were sometimes beaten before we got onto the pitch.

The defence was a massive difference as well - we kept our line together, hunted in packs, and made our tackles (the first 10 minutes from Eastmond where he did an impression of a turnstile notwithstanding). It's a little harsh to criticise last year, as we had a crap pre-season, binned everything after one game, went without defensive coaching for a while, then brought in someone to try and patch the leaks mid-season. This was a side who had had a full pre-season, with a plan and a defensive ethos instilled by a good coach, and we looked much better for it.

As for the players, Calum Green looks to be a good influence - his workrate was phenomenal and he was a nuisance in the rucks and in the lineout. He's come back better from being away and I think he's rubbing off on Wells, who was also good. Coglan looks like a good find as a squad 8 and Liebenberg shows promise, albeit nothing outstanding in that game. Reid has some very nice touches in the backs, although he was clearly a 12 covering 10. Forsyth looks better than I remember him being when he last left. Only major downside was Sam Harrison who appears to have lost all form with slow and inconsistent service combined with some awful box-kicks.

Mustn't get carried away with one pre-season game involved mixed A/B sides, but that is just so much better. More of that please Geordan!

Puja

He's just been learning off Youngs!

Beat me to it.

[francoisfou]

Just finished watching this game - very good result for Tigers at 27-7. We look so much better from last season. Granted, this wasn't a first team game, but it was a pretty strong Exeter side and nothing to be sniffed at. Mostly, the attitude was what impressed - players ran supporting lines like they believed the break might come and attacked rucks in a way that was completely absent last year. We looked like a side that believed, whereas last season we were sometimes beaten before we got onto the pitch.

The defence was a massive difference as well - we kept our line together, hunted in packs, and made our tackles (the first 10 minutes from Eastmond where he did an impression of a turnstile notwithstanding). It's a little harsh to criticise last year, as we had a crap pre-season, binned everything after one game, went without defensive coaching for a while, then brought in someone to try and patch the leaks mid-season. This was a side who had had a full pre-season, with a plan and a defensive ethos instilled by a good coach, and we looked much better for it.

As for the players, Calum Green looks to be a good influence - his workrate was phenomenal and he was a nuisance in the rucks and in the lineout. He's come back better from being away and I think he's rubbing off on Wells, who was also good. Coglan looks like a good find as a squad 8 and Liebenberg shows promise, albeit nothing outstanding in that game. Reid has some very nice touches in the backs, although he was clearly a 12 covering 10. Forsyth looks better than I remember him being when he last left. Only major downside was Sam Harrison who appears to have lost all form with slow and inconsistent service combined with some awful box-kicks.

Mustn't get carried away with one pre-season game involved mixed A/B sides, but that is just so much better. More of that please Geordan!

Puja

He's just been learning off Youngs!

Beat me to it.

So why isn't Harrison in Japan instead of Heinz!

[Tigersman]

Was a good game.
The backs passing was as crisps as I have ever seen it. Even Hardwick who I like but viewed more as a steady type 10 with a massive boot showed massive flair in that Eastmond assist.

I'm not too worried about 9, Harrison apparently off mid season once Ben Youngs is back.
We will then have Youngs, White, Simmons, Law and Van Poorliet who I think all look like they have potential.

We will see if the defence holds though as the season goes on.
Taufua, Liebenberg, Thompson, Green, Lavanini, Cole, Youngs, Genge should be a very well balanced pack.
and considering we where missing Youngs, Ford, Tuilagi, May, Veainu in the backs.

I'm hopeful of the season too come.

The big thing about Tigers recuitment for me is that most "seem" to have filled in holes where needed.