No contest. None whatsoever.
I usually have a bit of a debate with myself (first sign of insanity)
about which is the 'game of the week' in the Premiership, and I had toyed with
the idea of giving it to the Worcester v Newcastle game, a relegation crunch
match. But then I thought will that game
provide enough drama to cause grown men to desperately cry for new
underwear? Will it provide moments of
quality that verge on the beautiful?
Will it provide enough controversy to make an eventful day on Eastenders
seem like a day doing the garden? The
answer to all three was no. There is
only one game that does that, year in, year out. Tigers v Saints.
To say these two have history is a little bit like saying George
North has big legs – it's a colossal understatement. I've written about their historical battles
before, but what's most interesting is that this will be the first time the two
sides have met since that fateful day at Twickenham last May, in the
Premiership Final. Dylan Hartley's gob
and four Leicester scores sealed the result there, but the ramifications of
that match are still being felt now, with Richard Cockerill still in the dog
house for using fruity language when speaking to officials. It's just another spice to add into the
intriguing melting pot of vendettas and agendas between these two.
The Tigers have started the season in typical Leicester
fashion – with an injury crisis and with everyone wandering what's so special
about them. They haven't got out of
third gear yet, but their uncanny knack of timing it right and the end of the
season will be at the front of everyone's minds – and there is no doubting the
depth of talent they have at their disposal, although new boy Blaine Scully
would have been hoping for a slightly easier introduction to East Midlands
derbies than having to face up to George North.
Saints, on the other hand, have had no injury concerns or questions
asked of them regarding their ability – they already have a try of the season
candidate and a win against a top four opposition under their belt. They also happen to have one of the most frightening second-row combinations in rugby at their disposal, with neither Samu Manoa or Courtney Lawes known for their friendliness on the pitch. Despite their hoodoo against the Tigers in
recent years, the talent coursing throughout the side looks now to have taken
them to the next level – a level that is currently also occupied by their
opposition on Saturday.
I don't think either side will agree that there is room for
two there.
Leicester Tigers
Team News
Leicester make one change following the win over Exeter Chiefs
at Sandy Park, with Graham Kitchener replacing Geoff Parling in the second
row. Thomas Waldrom and David Mele, who
missed out on Sunday, are replacements for the sell-out local derby.
Starting Line up: Morris;
Scully, Goneva, Allen, Thompstone; Flood (capt), Ben Youngs; Mulipola, Tom
Youngs, Cole, Deacon, Kitchener, Slater, Salvi, Crane.
Subs: Briggs ,
Stankovich, Balmain, Parling, Waldrom, Mele, Williams, Bowden.
Key Player
Ed Slater. The lock-cum-blindside
has started this season like a freight-train, albeit a freight train that looks
uncannily like Desperate Dan. The big
man was my player of the season for the Tigers last year and he has picked up
where he left off, rampaging around the park, hitting rucks in the old school
manner, and then galloping with the ball in hand and throwing behind-the-back
offloads in the tackle. Slater has it
all, but his task will be narrowed to combating the unbelievably physical
threat that Northampton offer – if he stops the likes of Dickinson and Manoa on
the gainline, and gets his offloading game going, then Tigers should begin to
dominate themselves.
Northampton Saints
Team News
Northampton recall Tom Wood and Samu Manoa as they look to
avenge their defeat by Tigers in last season's Premiership final. Calum Clark is among the replacements, but
Christian Day is not in the squad.
Starting Line
up: Foden; Elliott, G. Pisi,
Burrell, North; Myler, Dickson; Corbisiero, Hartley (capt), Mercey, Manoa,
Lawes, Wood, Dowson, Dickinson.
Subs: Haywood,
Waller, Denman, Van Velze, Clark, Fotuali'i, Wilson, K. Pisi.
Key Player
Alex Corbisiero. The
prop has had a solid start to his Saints career, but then again I guess
anything would pale in comparison to his heroics in Australia for the Lions –
and the same goes for George North. He
will need to ensure that he is on top of his game in the tight though as he
squares up to Dan Cole at scrumtime in what should be a mouth-watering battle. Cole showed signs over the last couple of
weeks that he has become very comfortable with the new scrummaging laws, whilst
Corbisiero has had his wobbles. He will
need to ensure he holds off the threat of Cole, particularly on the Leicester
ball, to nullify that potential advantage.
If he does that, and Saints get a good platform to play off, then the
backs will be licking their lips.
Key Battle
Anthony Allen v Luther Burrell. With match ups like Cole v Corbisiero, Youngs
v Hartley and Pisi v Goneva on the field (to name but a few), you may be
surprised that I've plumped for two of the more understated members of the
respective sides. But they are both
absolutely integral to how both side's operate.
Allen has been a defensive lynchpin for Tigers over the years, going
from a wafty little fairy in the tackle to one of the best defenders and
organisers in the Premiership – and he now has extra responsibility with the
Goneva, usually a winger, partnering him.
Burrell, on the other hand, is all about offense. In a backline with quick feet and guile, he
provided the balancing ballast to straighten the line and make yards – and score
tries. He may get caught out defensively
on occasion, but he is improving at a remarkable rate. With genuine ambitions for an England shirt,
the battle between these two contenders will be fascinating.
Prediction
There comes a time of year that gets adrenalin soaring,
voices straining and blood boiling like no other – and that time is derby
time. And it doesn't get bigger than
Tigers v Saints. Despite the monopoly of
victories Leicester have over their neighbours in recent times – most recently
in last season's Premiership final – the Saints boast a new and improved look
this year. With George North starting to
showcase some frankly ridiculous skills and the likes of Burrell, Hartley and
the Pisi brothers firing on all cylinders, Saints fans have every right to be
optimistic. But I still think that
Leicester are one of the few sides who can still physically dominate them –
especially at home. Saints looked a bit
vulnerable against Gloucester when under pressure, and I expect to see the
hosts applying a lot of it on Saturday – it will be close, but it should be
just enough for the win. Tigers by 5.
What else is happening in the Premiership this weekend?
Sale Sharks v
Bath: Salford on Friday night is
always a difficult place to play and, although Bath have been playing some nice
rugby, the conditions and atmosphere will suit the hosts. Sale
by 6.
London Irish v
Harlequins: Irish have been playing
some nice attacking rugby but their defence leaves a lot to be desired – I expect
Quins to bounce back from defeat last weekend.
Quins by 12.
Saracens v
Wasps: Sarries at home are still
formidable, even if they are resting some key players. Wasps may like the fast pitch but they'll
struggle to contain the hosts' power. Sarries by 15.
Worcester Warriors v
Newcastle Falcons: In a relegation
crunch game, Dean Ryan must surely be looking at getting his Warriors side off
the mark. But their defence has been so
poor I can see the new boys picking up a crucial win. Falcons
by 2.
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