Martin Crowson's five key points: Leicester Tigers' Crane would be first out of trenches
Martin Crowson looks back at five key points from the weekend's rugby action.
1 Tigers No.8 Jordan Crane has picked up too much unnecessary flak since battling back from a year out of the game.
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Jordan Crane
It was always going to take him time to adjust to playing again after such a serious injury. But Crane is a warrior, loves the club and would be at the front of the queue when they sent the soldiers out of the trenches if the guys behind him had a Tigers badge on their chests.
Saturday was his best performance since he started playing again. He was combative, aggressive and worked his socks off with plenty of reward. Long may it continue.
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2 It is the season to be jolly, apparently. But London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith was not in the festive spirit in the post-game press conference on Saturday night.
He blamed the referee and the touch judge for not seeing a "hands in the ruck" offence which led to Tigers' second penalty try. Then he blamed all referees for siding with Leicester at the scrum and then said Tom Youngs should have been red-carded for a shoulder barge. Merry Christmas to you too Brian.
3 The half-back pairing of Ben Youngs and Toby Flood is there to be shot at as they are the country's No.1 players in their respective positions. But, over the past two weeks, their value to Leicester has been blatantly obvious.
Youngs' vision near his own line to start the move which ended with the opening try in Treviso was superb and Flood pulled the strings with assured control at London Irish on Saturday having not played for his club for eight weeks.
4 Upcoming referee Luke Pearce may have missed a few things at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday but top marks for penalising and yellow-carding Ben Youngs for not retreating 10 metres from a tap penalty before making a tackle.
This has been a bugbear of mine all season as players get away with early tackles left, right and centre, thus negating the advantage and ability to surprise. Other refs, please take note.
5 If anyone needed reminding that Saracens and Harlequins are the biggest threats to Leicester this season, their results this weekend proved that beyond doubt.
Saracens' defence was an episode in dogged resistance against Bath at The Rec and their 22-0 win was tremendous. Meanwhile, Quins showed once again that they can go to difficult places and win with a hard-fought victory at a fired-up Northampton.
Comments
by tigersultra1_
Monday, December 31 2012, 3:10PM
“Get rid of Castro. Why keep him?? we have plenty of talent waiting to come in.”
by Oadbylad
Saturday, December 29 2012, 2:30PM
“"No bigger admirer of Castro than me
but he does seem to have lost his way this term
spends most of his limited time on the pitch arguing with the refs or giving away silly penalties
Could be time to look for a replacement especially if the french get out their wallets"”
by Snaggy
Thursday, December 27 2012, 7:36PM
“Tigers' front row is not the power it once was so a change might not be a bad thing. And if it frees up some cash so much the better.”
by wigono
Thursday, December 27 2012, 5:24PM
“i'm not saying it's a bad thing, just saying what i read earlier thinking it was hot off the press news.”
by crombieman
Thursday, December 27 2012, 4:49PM
“looks like Castro might be off - shame but as well as Cole we have Mulipola and Balmain who looks very promising who can cover tight head - both probably cheaper than Castro and if he left it would probably free up quite a lot of cash. Castro is not the player he was 2 years ago.”
by wigono
Thursday, December 27 2012, 9:47AM
“Latest news? I have just read that Martin castro' will be joining Toulon at the end of the season. I don't know if this is common knowledge & i'm behind the times?”
by Oadbylad
Thursday, December 27 2012, 9:24AM
“JC might have taken some stick but rightfully so in my opinion Martin
But the question you ought to be asking is "what muppett brought him back as captain even?"”
by DerekFord
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 11:15AM
“Boxing Day was always one to look forward to-the annual treat at Welford Road to see the Barbarians, standing beside my mother & dad
in their season ticket seats. Bobby Bar was a full back and the Gadney
brothers were mostly involved. Celery was always on the menu every Saturday from the barrow on the street.In those days,my Father would go to buy the bird at midnight on Christmas Eve at the Fish Market.
The Town Waites (spelling ?) a small band would come round the local streets playing carols.Harry Black always invited us for a glass of wine,splendid in his waistcoat and watch chain and they came to us the following day.Those were the days!!”