The second Guinness Premiership semi-final sees log-toppers Gloucester taking on the Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm Road. This is the Gloucester “Cherry & Whites” third semi play-off in six seasons – last season they were beaten 44-16 in the final by the Tigers, and so they will be looking to avenge that defeat today.
Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan has been pragmatic on last year’s final stating “We were well beaten last year, but I would like to think a year on we’ve matured and we are better for it.” Well they certainly were better for it, once again topping the table after all pool matches. However the same can’t be said for Leicester Tigers, who sneaked into the play-offs on the back of a desperate win at Harlequins and a Sale Sharks defeat.
Whilst Gloucester set off to a perfect start in the premiership, Leicester were decimated by World Cup call-ups, injuries and a caretaker coaching team – head coach Marcello Loffreda joined them 2 months into the season. Once the squad finally got going, there were hiccups from within – key players off form (Aaron Mauger and Andy Goode), injuries (Raubeni, Tuilagi, Ellis, Jennings), a general lack of leadership and whispers of a split between assistant coaches Richard Cockerill, Neil Back and Marcello Loffreda. However they have managed to make the play-offs, and you certainly can’t write-off a team who expect success every season.
Players to watch:
Gloucester:
Virtually the entire Gloucester backline is worth watching – but none more so than the talented young flyhalf Ryan Lamb, an expansive running flyhalf who also is a pretty consistent kicker. Another name that really stands out is the vastly underrated centre/winger, James Simpson-Daniel. This chap has the ability to create something out of nothing – and at pace too. Another name to watch out for is Tongan flanker Akapusi Qera, a scavenger of note and a prolific try-scorer. Qera has also been shortlisted as one of the Guinness Premiership players of the season. Lock and captain Marco Bortolami is also a key player for Gloucester, and he will be hoping to steal some ball from the Tigers locks.
Leicester Tigers:
Powerhouse Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi returns from injury and will be looking to outpace and out muscle Simpson-Daniel on the wing. All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger has been surpringly uninspiring this season – now would be an ideal time to show his undoubted class. Same too applies for Andy Goode, the Tigers pivot. Goode has had a poor season by his standards, falling further down the England pecking order and there was talk of him moving on. But when he is on song with his boot, it can be decisive. Amongst the forwards, eighthman Jordan Crane is a rising star.
Prediction:
Expect Gloucester to try play their usual expansive game, and Tigers try keep it tight and amongst their forwards to restrict the Cherry and Whites’ possession. Both teams have big, experienced front rows so expect a tough battle upfront as well. Whilst you can never write off the Tigers, you have to think that Gloucester’s fine form over the past few seasons has to be rewarded – so Gloucester to sneak through…just.
SA Players in action:
Leicester Tigers: Marco Wentzel
Gloucester: –
The teams:
Gloucester: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami (captain), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Andy Titterrell, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Jack Forster, 18 Will James, 19 Luke Narraway, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Mark Foster.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Danny Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Ben Herring, 6 Martin Corry (captain), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Julian White, 2 Mefin Davies, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Sam Vesty, 22 Ayoola Erinle.
Venue: Kingsholm, Gloucester
Kick-off: 16.30 (17.30 SA time, 15.30 GMT)
Referee: Dave Pearson
Touch judges: Stuart Terheege, Peter Huckle
TMO: Laurie Bryant, Geoff Warren
Tweet
How does Wentzel make it into that team?
LOL, I see Tindall is out.
Wonder if its from the royal wedding yesterday rather than the injury he is carrying…everyone knows Tindall likes a drink or 3. Didn’t he once try (unsuccesfully – he was chundering at the end) beat David Boon’s record for most beers drunk of an Aus-UK flight? And then there is a drunken driving charge recently… 🙄
So backline is reshuffeled like this:
15 – Willie Walker (comes off the beench)
14 – Ian Balshaw
13 – James Simpson-Daniel
@Le Requinny (Comment 2) : How the hell can Tindal with his Picasso painting face land such a good looking girlfriend?
First blood to Gloucester with a penalty kicked by Ryan Lamb.
3-0
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 4) :
lol, he looks a bit like The Joker doesn’t he – wonder how many times thatnose has been broken? Dunno… but then again she has weird taste cause her first public boyfriend was a midget jockey who looked a bit like an inbred chipmunk…
He’s caused trouble before with his drinking antics. Didn’t they once have to call the police when things got out of hand at his girlfriend’s mom’s place? Not only him involved of course.
Andy Goode misses a penalty for Leicester…
😆 inbred chipmunk.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 7) :
Ja I think so – on Princess Anne’s estate, and then there was the Stan Colleymore incident when a bunch of drunken Bath players – Tindall & Robbie Fleck included – assaulted the former roundball player….
@Le Requinny (Comment 10) : Only problem with that is they didn’t moer Colleymore properly.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 11) :
lmao, yip true – didn’t he go on to make a mint from that incident? It was actually pretty funny cause he had a reputation as a “wife-beater” or would that be a “wag-beater”? And then he went bawling like a 3 year old when moered himself!
Another penalty chance to Gloucester – Tiger player holding on.
6-3
Not the most exciting game…
Yellow Leicester..
and another yelow..Harry Ellis now off…
Boring game after all yestderday’s excitement, and the first 30 min of the Bath-Wasps game…
Half time 12-3 Glouc.
Half-time 12-3 for Gloucester.
All penalties.
Commentator reckons it was an “exciting first half”… Hmmm 🙄
This is what’s wrong with northern hemisphere rugby
15 – 13 Glo
53min
Aaaah, and finally there is a little “action” in this game.
Just after halftime, there was a converted penalty apiece to Gloucs & Leics – score was 15-6.
And just now, the former Sharks winger (well briefly a Shark) Alesana Tuilagi stormed over the tryline – with about 3 Gloucs players hanging on him – stormed over for a try in the corner…
Try was converted by Andy Goode, game on at 15-13.
Stuart Barnes is almost having an orgasm, talking about how wonderful this game is – perfect kicking, now a try, blah blah blah 😯
Penalty was converted ❓ ❓ 🙄 😛
Sim Daniel try!
yes – 6+7 = 13?
And with that, Gloucester reply with a streaky try by “Sinbad” Simpson-Daniel, good try.
@Le Requinny (Comment 22) : Find myself wondering if we should have done more with those tuilagis…
And at the risk of setting Barnes off again, Ryan Lamb converts.
22-13 Gloucester
@Le Requinny (Comment 25) :
It was a TRY that was converted 😀
Haha that try was created by and scored by 2 of my Gloucester players to watch! 🙂 Qera & Sinbad!
😯 Flippen Hell…………It seems Andy Goode has grown his eyebrows as well as his hair 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) :
I don’t know WHAT you are talking about
!
Goode misses a vital penalty for Leicester.
Okay I ahve just got home from spinning.
Has this game suddenly changed?
You guys were saying it is boring, It looks pretty good to me at the moment
Try Aaron Mauger
Goode converts
22-20 Gloucester
Now we have a match on our hands!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) :
Its opened up this half. Was a grindfest, yawnfest in first half. Game of possession.
On subject of Goode & facial hair:
http://www.artandimages.co.uk/hambo/images/mogallery/andy-goode.jpg
Lucy (my 7 year old) has just come in and seeing Glo, asked “remember when the Reds where wearing white?” 😆 (refering to the Lions game where the Reds wore white and the Lions wore red)
lol, good memory!
Ryan Lamb “scores” but is called back for a forward pass by Gloucs flank Narraway.
Leicester get a penalty at the scrum & move play to Gloucs half.
In Gloucs half now, and Leics get another penalty.
Goode converts for Leics to take the lead.
23-22 Leicester
Man the Gloucester crowd look heavy concerned.
i wasn’t even that bad at the S14 Final last year. 🙄
Gloucester get a penalty in the tigers half, but its right on the lefthand touchline. Can they take the lead in te 72nd minute?
Nope, Ryan Lamb pushes it wide.
Still 23-22 to Leicester Tigers
And then Gloucester fullback Willie Walker slots over a drop goal!
25-23 Glouester
OH MY WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DG hits the righthand upright and goes in.
Glo in the lead through a Kiwi DG.
I have only seen from about 50min but this is not a bad game at all
SS5 has just lost the feed 👿
😳 it’s on Showtime as well
Unlucky Gloucs.
Andy Goodde is such a tosser 🙄
Game over
Glo 25 – 26 Lei
good game
The second half was actually very good! Game came to life.
Goode wins the game for Leicester in the 78th minute with a last gasp drop goal.
So Lamb’s missed penalty was key.
Andy Goode = Stu Barnes MOM!
I reckon he’ll get the call ahead of Ryan Lamb to take Cipriani’s place on the Kiwi tour.
Feels sorry for Gloucester – that’s now 2 seasons they’ve dominated the pool stages & fallen out in the semis.
Dare I say they are to the Guinness Premiership as the Sharks are to the Currie Cup?
Sucks that I got my prediction wrong for this game, but at least my “Players to Watch” were indeed the try-scorers :): !
I smell like a local, need to get cleaned up.
later.
seeing yer ass a bit in the Fantasy League, Quinn? I got 4 tries just from the Sharks game 😉
‘a suspected ankle fracture’
http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/guiness/news/166889.htm
I’m no doctor, but judging from the angle of his foot, I’d say his ankle is broken.
@racheltjiedebeer (Comment 51) :
OW!!!! 😯
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 50) :
You’re just a lucky bliksem – those 3 weeks back in April when I had NO INTERNET ACCESS basically killed me dead in the water – Crusaders, Blues & Brumbies byes cost me BIG time! I’ll get you next time, when I have NO distractions ❗