It’s no secret what a mixed season the Leicester Tigers have had. Three coaches have been sacked: Scott Hansen (Justifiable but sacking should have been earlier), Richard Cockerill (Controversial as to whether it was him or Mauger that was the problem) and Aaron Mauger (Very controversial as he was well-liked and sacked with 5 rounds to go).
What do they need to do next season in order to improve and return into their rightful place of forwards-dominance and Top 2 finish in the Aviva Premiership?
Sign a Number 8
Ever since the departure of Thomas Waldrom in 2013, Tigers have missed a gainline ball-carrier in the back-row. Though Luke Hamilton has improved considerably since arriving from Agen this season, playing against the World-class Louis Picamoles in the Saints derby proved he has still has much to learn, so he needs an international-class Number 8 to look up to and improve from in the squad. Also, I’m excited by the Academy’s Fred Tuilagi (the eighth Tuilagi to play in a senior Tigers shirt and son of legendary wing Freddie Sr Tuilagi) but we will have to see. Unfortunately for me, Lachlan McCaffrey is a good player but lacks that ball-carrying ability. From the Aviva Premiership, Tigers could sign England capped Ben Morgan who could be unhappy at struggling Gloucester and is in my opinion the player Tigers should sign for next season.
Improve the decision-making
It’s my belief that it was decision-making that has been Tigers downfall and that is mainly due to indecision (especially for the first-half of the season) from the management, lack of communication or just lack of strategic thinking. If Tigers improve their decision-making, such as whether taking a lineout instead of a penalty, then some games will be more easily won as the Tigers in my opinion have still one of the best forward packs in the country (with the second-best front-row behind Saracens).
Improve the kicking
Now I don’t think this will be a huge issue anyway next season with England flyhalf George Ford coming. His place-kicking is world-class and I believe he can put the Bath fiasco to bed and be brilliant for Tigers. While Freddie Burns deserves a ticket to Argentina this season and has matured as a player since coming to us from Gloucester, his place-kicking has been mixed: at times excellent, mediocre and then horrible.
That inaccuracy is down to the fact that Leicester don’t have a permanent kicking coach but that won’t matter when Ford comes because England do have a kicking coach and legend Jonny Wilkinson helping out too. Also, the box-kicking has been mixed, with Ben Youngs inconsistent as always and Jono Kitto takes millions of years to box-kick (a bit of an exaggeration but you get the gist). So if Tigers improve the kicking overall then the territory game would go considerably in their favour.
Improve the marketing
To win back fans after a so-far disappointing season, Tigers I feel need to urgently improve their marketing. Their social media needs to be improved and they should post Live matches of their Academy and A League sides. Not only that, but their website is woefully out of date and there is lack of information about players in my opinion, such as when have they scored their tries, received MOTM award etc. Also, high-profile games like the Derby with Saints and the Clash with Bath don’t receive enough embellishment on the Internet.
Obviously, this season Leicester have been extremely unfortunate with injuries (I think Tigers will give Manu one more season to see if he can do a long-term return from injury) but in the space of one season Tigers have gone from one of the worst defending sides in England to one of the best under Brett Deacon and the scrummaging has vastly improved under Boris Stankovich toppled with a World-class backline for next season (Youngs, Ford, Pietersen, Toomua, Tuilagi, Vieanu and Tait as a possible combo) Tigers can be a force to reckon with next season fingers crossed.
By Jacob Bassford
Interesting that you think Ford’s place kicking is World class? I don’t know what his stats are, but I think World class is generous.
I think his kicking from hand and game management are better than his place kicking. I would say if anything his place kicking is the one part of his game he needs to improve the most?
I would say one other problem is keeping players fit. Maybe with a different coaching set this will be less of a problem, but historically in they have had issues with several players being injured for long periods and then quickly getting injured again when they take to the field.
Yes I agree maybe the attacking style this season has put bodies on the line too often
i’ll put my body on the line 4 u anyday daddie
Blimey, surprised to see Ford get called a world class place kicker and Youngs’ box kicking get questioned. For me it’s the other way round.
Leicester problem is their pack in my opinion. Genge and Cole are top class but outside of that I don’t think it fares well against the top sides (Saracens/Wasps/Leicester).
Kitchener and Slater haven’t developed in the way that Leicester have hoped, and I still think their back row is very average. Compared to the players the three clubs above have at their disposal, and you can even throw Bath in, the Leicester pack just isn’t competitive.
Yes I agree with u about Slater and Kitchener tho Barrow has potential in my opinion. As for George Ford I meant to have put kicking from his hand and his place kicking as the same thing. Ben Youngs is a great box kicker it’s just been inconsistent in a Tigers shirt
Youngs hasn’t been ar his best for a while but I’m excited about Mike Williams and cautiously optimistic about Dom Barrow. Potentially all 3 on the plane to Argentina. Even if Tom Youngs isn’t at his best he still is one of the best hookers in the country and with Hartley and George almost guaranteed to go with Lions to NZ I think Youngs will get the England call-up
Interesting to note the marketing comment, specifically the social media factor. Engagement with your fan base is key, not just on Saturday afternoons, and looking at the Tigers’ channels, they are trying, but it does feel a little amateur at times.
Live matches on Facebook would be great, but if they are looking to draw new fans then they should be focusing on shorter formats. The interviews they had for the Anglo Cup were a good start, but how often is a casual rugby fan going to stop and watch a video for four minutes? Especially a one-shot interview. Social media presence is great, doing something with it that is adding value is the part they need to work on.
Yes will they are doing an open training session on Friday for Tigers supporters and I will be interested in that
I’m sorry but when I wrote this blog I forgot to mention that it’s rumoured that Leicester are signing Sione Kalamafoni from Gloucester. My opinion? I think Morgan and Moriaty would have been better options from the Cherry and Whites but whether they were available for signing I don’t know. So I’m not to sure about this Tongan, can he reach the impact consistent levels that Leicester imperatively desire, only time will tell
The problem has already been said and that is Leicester don’t have the forward pack to compete at the moment, out of there entire pack I would say only 4 players are truly worth keeping and have potential (Cole, Genge, Williams and Fitzgerald) apart from that they are struggling. They need to be looking at spending some money on number 8s that can break the gainline and be a threat to other teams as well as bringing in some locks that can do the same and cause chaos in the lineouts. Other than that I think Leicester are sorted they do have a world class backline and with George Ford coming next season it should really sharpen them up! (Youngs,Ford,JP,Tuilagi,Toomua,Betham,Veainu) I don’t see the need to bringing in anyone else with them all fit Leicesters back line could rival the best teams in Europe. The only thing that might help Leicester is signing an older 12/13 incase of injuries/international call ups to help give that solidity in the backline that they have missed aswell as give some wisdom and guidance to the players coming through like Jack Roberts.
Maybe one lock, I don’t know but what about Will Evans and Dom Barrow. They’re promising. Tom Youngs needs to get back on form. But I’d have to say our scrum is going well at the moment. We dominated against Bath, Northampton and Newcastle recently
Unfortunately Jack Roberts is going to Cardiff Blues next season and Peter Betham hasn’t been in form for about 5 months now.