Rugby Union RWC and Season 2011-12

Aah Glaws defeated 19-14 . Saints next,is Manu playing

What an epic game yesterday,Tigers vs Saints only marred by the sending off of Alesandra Tuilagi and Tom Wood which was all started by a certain mr Ashton who seemed to think that it is fair play to use hair pulling to get the opposition [ Tuilagi ] into touch . But still we won the day even if a little gamesmanship were employed and now well on the way to the top four,although we will have to see what damage the six nations inflict on us  .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B-HdPx-Feo

LT va NS.  An excellent game, which I was pleased to take an Aussie friend to for his first Welford Rd visit.

For me, the MotM was Horacio Agulla.  Not only for his winning Try, but for a body shocking Try-saving tackle on LT's left wing about half way through the first half which clearly left him shaken, and then for his committed play throughout the game.

Some interesting results elsewhere.  Delighted Newcastle bt Glaws.  Any comentson other results, chaps?

Actually Wasps ran Quins pretty close, not quite there but...

Ashton has been cited....

Stuart Lancaster - inspired appointment by suddenly and miraculously enlightened board of 'old fogeys', or fortuitous move driven by happenstance and the fact that he was in the right place at the right time?

Either way, I'm looking forward to Stuart Lancaster's stint in charge and sincerely hope it becomes permanent. Sadly, this is unlikely and some big name will be rolled in to appease the 'cognoscenti'.

I do not expect a great Six Nations as Lancaster begins the transformation, but think we will see glimpses of what is to come in patches. Unfortunately this means that Lancaster will probably not be given a longer term opportunity which is a shame because I have always preferred how the Saxons play to the first team, and long suspected that they would probably beat them if pitched in opposition.

Lancaster's appointment is, to me, akin to the appointment of Pep Guardiola to first team coach at Barcelona (for non football followers they have been elevated to the position of being lauded as one of the greatest teams ever). Guardiola was not a big name appointment, he was the youth team coach who gave the players who are performing so well now their football education. Unassuming, intelligent, hugely knowledgeable, strongly focused on team ethic and absolutely resolute in the belief the game needs to be played in the right way. Sounds familiar.

Barcelona took a risk. I hope the RFU do too.

Well we shall see what occurs in the not to distant future . Tigers took a beating on Sunday against Clermont, it was all equal and the Tigers were on top until George Chuter and Manu were sin binned at the same time by Alain Rolland for late and high tackles { although it did seem to be that little sh*t Parra that started it by seemingly biting Chuters ear prior } and with us down to thirteen men the problems began still they have to come to us on Saturday

Bath are getting thumped by Leinster. English clubs now look second string in Europe

Even Tigers only scraped it against Clermont and I think they will regret that bonus point they let them have. The old Tigers would not have allowed that

Sorry to see Wasps get such a battering from Glaws.

However, for the East Midlands' finest a 13-32 four-Try bonuspoint away win at Worcester (note - whose defence had conceded only 16 league tries this season until today), and with a much better performance all round, is getting towards 'normal service resumed'!

For LT, knocking on the door of the Premiership play-off zone, an encouraging place to be at year end, albeit it with a challenging run-in to the end of the regular season, especially with Manu and Louis knackering their hamstrings.

After Sale on NY'sD afternoon, bring on Wasps on Saturday 7th Jan!

You perhaps misread my sentiment..  ;-)

And Louis Deacon going over for a well-made forwards' Try.  George Chuter in close support, as indeed

he was all game.

Tigers' win and the 4pts v. welcome.  But not a perfect display by Tigers and well done to Sale for closing LT's attack down and for exposing LT's weaknesses t score some v. well taken tries.

Elsewhere ... Banter aside, like Tigers and England legend Ben Kay I have no wish to see Wasps in freefall like they are at the moment, but I fear that there is real "trouble at t'mill".  Don't take my word, here is a link to what the Wasps' faithful have to say.

http://messageboard.wasps.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=887&sid=4a01f573f4f5db2e28758dff8176bdaa

I don't much like, but accept as a sign of desparation said out of emotion, the sour grapes about alleged 'salary cap breakers' - amongst which LT are groundlessly and libellously mentioned.  Presumably the same arrangements were in place when Wasps were towards the top of the English and European trees within recent memory.  I think a more pertinent question is: where is 'Mr Wasps', loudmouth Larry Dayglo, and what is he doing to help his old club out?

Unless Tigers have a real meltdown on Saturday (7th) I fear it could be a cricket score.

I`d better bring a stiff drink for our pals in yellow and black on Saturday James, at least it will keep them warm and leave a nice lingering taste in the mouth , unlike the score board

A taste of things to come:

Lovely day out with JamieWednesday, Chillkram and Chillkram jnr. (unfortunately our curry in town meant that we didn't get to also rendezvous with Deadlifter).

Wasps came to Welford Rd after a run of poor form, but mounted a spirited performance with some committed defending and a couple of cheeky attacking plays that caught Tigers' out.

Never easy to play in floodlit cold and blustery midwinter post-sundown blackness, and the play was scrappy at times.

All of Leicester Tigers' points came from Billy Twelvetrees, establishing a new record for points scored by one player only.

Clarification. There was a bit of confusion about the strange circumstances of Twelvetrees' first Try.  It seems that the ball was knocked back by a Wasps arm, not forward by Tigers' Thomas Waldrom, for Twelvetrees to then ground the ensuing loose ball.

Leicester 29-11 Wasps