How the Tiger lost its bite.

Sitting ninth in the Premiership and effectively out of Europe things are far from perfect at Welford Road, home of England's most successful club. These are just a few of my thoughts and reasons on why Leicester Tigers are struggling this campaign.

The Forwards

For countless years Leicester’s dominance was built off the back of a strong dogged set of forwards who could crush opposing teams into submission, in turn allowing the backs to run freely, score tries and win games. This season is a far cry from those days.

Welford Road, home of the Tigers (Pic/David Rogers, Getty)

Leicester’s main weakness lies in the back five and more specifically the second rows. Graham Kitchener and Mike Fitzgerald have taken up residence behind the scrum in all six of the recent consecutive defeats. Neither has made a positive impact in any of those matches in either defence or attack. Kitchener’s biggest strength is perhaps his prowess in the lineout, a set-piece that seems to rarely work with any fluidity anymore. Fitzgerald is on paper a more physical presence but neither he nor Kitchener carry or defend with any level of force or fury. There are options for the Tigers but game in game out Matt O’Connor is naming the same two expecting something to change. Harry Wells is one such player, in the early parts of the season he started in wins against Exeter, Gloucester and Harlequins but now is lucky to make the bench. Barrow and Maksymiw also played strong starting roles in that earlier string of six consecutive league wins but now are regularly overlooked. Who was it that said ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result?’

The back row is also riddled with problems at the moment, although the return of Brendon O’Connor this weekend against London Irish could go some way to improving things. Kalamafoni at the base was a dogged workhorse carrying and making ground throughout the run of Leicester wins but the ability to break the gain-line has been a distant memory in recent weeks. Valentino Mapapalangi is another Tongan who has at times looked a promising and capable option in the back row but whose performances are all too inconsistent for the cut and thrust of European and Premiership rugby. A risky one-handed offload may catch the eye and look good on TV but Leicester are not in the position to chase 50/50 ‘flair’ plays they need to play sensible rugby. Luke Hamilton hasn’t looked the same since an injury picked up in his debut for Scotland and Mike Williams seems more likely to be yellow carded than to score. I can’t remember the last time Leicester successfully won a turnover at the breakdown through their flankers or number eight.

Injuries

You don’t have to support Leicester to have heard the quip, ‘How many minutes has Tuilagi actually played in the last few seasons?’ Although the influential centre has since returned to action, two important ball carrying options remain out in the shape of Ellis Genge and Telusa Veainu. Matt Toomua is another marquee name that has spent large portions of this season on the touchline and as such is only just starting to build game time alongside his centre partner Tuilagi. These are just a flavouring of some of the players that have been absent for Leicester this season. All the time stunting continuity, fitness and performances.

It would be naïve though to blame all shortcomings on injuries as this is a problem universal to all twelve of the teams in the Premiership. The problem for Leicester has been the sheer number of wounded and the lack of trust shown to academy talent in times of need. Academy graduate Sam Skinner starred for Exeter last week all whilst Leicester continue to start Johnny May out of position in the absence of Tait and Veainu whilst Leicestershire’s next crop of passionate full-backs are kept cooped up.

Manu Tuilagi playing for Leicester (Pic/Zimbio)

No cutting-edge

There was a moment in the second half of the match against Exeter where Leicester had a chance of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and posing a real threat to the champions on their own patch. However, following a string of ineffective phases on the Chiefs line the ball was stolen and the chance went begging. Five minutes later Exeter had smashed their way through a wilting Tigers defence, marched the length of Sandy Park and crossed at the other end, effectively putting a stop to the contest.

Having played every team once to have only scored four tries once is a sign of worrying times, Exeter had seven at the half way point. With very little consistent, hard-yard ball carrying and clean line breaks being like gold dust at the moment it leaves the Tigers relying on either very poor defence, a moment of brilliance or a gift from the opposing side. Leicester need to reassess their tactics and find more consistent ways of breaking down well drilled sides all whilst not straying from the basics of ball handling and effective kicking. Every team seems to have a positive playing style and identity apart from the Leicester Tigers and this causes problems.

The Board and Coaching Staff

Sacking Richard Cockerill was always going to cause debate among Leicester fans, right or wrong is up to you. However, there will be even fewer that agree with the treatment awarded to Aaron Mauger who just a day after helping oversee an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph was informed that his time as a Tiger was over. There was no chance at all that this was a mutual decision and Mauger was forced out the door before the end of a turbulent season for the swiftly ushered in Matt O’Connor. There are only two things that can spare a boards blushes in such a fiasco, the new guy hits the ground running and reaps instant rewards, Leicester made the top four and now sit ninth, or there is some argument or rift involving Mauger that we are yet to be told of. The unceremonious removal of Mauger also had a huge negative effect on players with many of them taking to social media to send well wishes to the leaving coach, often with underlying tones of disappointment and disbelief. The situation becomes even more difficult when you then consider that the board have to now be more hopeful than ever that O’Connor succeed because of the nature of his arrival. Showing him, the door too early runs a very real risk of undermining your own judgement. I get the sense that the chief Tigers aren’t too fond of having their egos hit. I believe that in turn all of this chopping and changing combined with a lack of communication is bound to have had negative effects on players, staff and the club as a whole.

I do have a little of sympathy for Matt O’Connor though, he can’t be blamed for the circumstances of his appointment or the fact that he has been offered little help in the shape of a forward’s coach. Richard Blaze left not long into the start of the season and his position still remains without an official new incumbent, surely a priority when those are the players that seem in need of the most nurturing. To guarantee success again it seems that there may be problems needing rectfiying all the way down from top to bottom at Welford Road.

Henry Justice