Hoping more Tigger than Tiger for Irish
Tigers will be fired up and seeking a track back to winning ways on Friday, a date changed from the Saturday to mirror the fecking way of last season. Having been on the receiving end of a depleted Sale win 24-16, and not even a bonus point for their efforts, the famous Midlands club will be up for it big fecking style.With Corry, L Deacon, Moody and Ellis on England duty, Geordan Murphy away with the Irish and Alesana and Anitele'a Tuilagi facing England at HQ, the stand-in skipper of Wiggy Healey will be there to get the Tigers moving. They have lost only twice this season so far, but have also drawn a couple to leave them 1 point behind the exiles in 4th place, not a position they intend to keep. Their eyes are firmly on a return to HQ to right their wrong in Martin Johnson’s final match for the stripy feckers in the final against the Pests.
In the girls they have a dangerous gang of felines that can inflict damage from anywhere even on first phase possession. With the likes of Ollie Smith and Sam Vesty, the home side will always be looking for the gaps in any defence line. In Tom Varndell, they own a real raw talent that will be hard pressed to fail in gaining International recognition, and soon. His power and fecking blinding pace has seen the 20-year-old claim 6 premiership tries already this season. Maybe Robbo should give him a call for Saturday against Samoa!
The normally reliable Leon Lloyd and Dan Hipkiss should complete their backs lie-up, although the monstrous fecker Henry Tuilagi is on the mend after breaking his leg at the end of last season and may get a surprise bench slot.
At 10, Andy Goode should return to add that feck off missile launching boot of his, but there is quality cover for him in the shape of former LI academy graduate, Ross Broadfoot. Any penalties conceded by the exiles will summon the Goode to attempt a 3 pointer, even from somewhere near his own try line!
In the pack, Tigers are having a few problems in replacing their old war-horses in the shape of the Back and Johnson, two leaders of men that are also being missed by their national side. With nineteen Ireland caps, Leo Cullen has been drafted from across the water to battle it out in the second row. The Wicklow man is starting to make an impact in the Tigers patterns and will be relishing a battle with Big Bob. His partner in crime is in the experienced former England man, Ben Kay, who has 40 national caps to his name. England reject, for unknown reasons, George Chuter will have plenty to aim at in the line-out.
The back row may contain Shane Jennings, if his injury has been shaken off by Friday. The 23-year-old Dublin open side flanker, left his beloved Leinster during the summer to become the long term replacement for Back. He has bagged one try for his new side this season, and is a bit of a handful all round the paddock. Brett Deacon and Tom Croft are the likely partners for Jennings in a back row that knows a few of the dark arts in winning ball in contact.
The front row with Chuter will probably be propped by Alex Moreno and Darren Morris who will provide an edge in all fatboy exchanges. Julian White, the English Lion, will still be out after his suspension for punching the be-Jesus out of Newcastles Andy Perry during a heated match at Welfare Road. He is set to return mid-December.
This will be a fecking stern test for the in-form London Irish squad. Any visit to Welford Road will always ask frickin’ awful questions of the visitors. Pat Howard is an excellent coach who knows his game inside out, and will be studying every play that Irish have followed thus far this season. If Tigers get a grip in the forwards, their dangerous back division will look to break the rush defence. It will have to be a battle royale for our tight 5 and a real war of attrition for the back row lads.
Gloucester did put their set piece under real pressure a fortnight ago, so there are areas for Irish to exploit. Casey and Kennedy must continue to dominate the lineout, and our front row have a real chance against the Whiteless Tiger’s 1 to 3. This is going to be a real hard ask for the lads, but given a continued run in form, a bit of luck, a strong ref not to be bullied by the one-eyed Welfare feckers and strong defence, a repeat of a couple of seasons back can be had.
Lets just keep the fecker Varndell away from the try line!
-- Master Scribe