It’s fair to say that last season at Welford Road was much smoother than the one prior. From early on we saw the impact that Aaron Mauger was having on their output and as he coupled his fresh ideas with the strengths of Richard Cockerill the Premiership club made strides in the right direction. This season it will be all about building on that platform and doing so with a squad that’s tight.
Following the denouement of last season Richard Cockerill took the opportunity to review his squad and in his words ‘make sure that everyone in the squad was someone that you’d want to pick in the first team squad’. As a result their list of departures is fairly sizeable and they will be running off a smaller base of players. Let’s be clear this isn’t because they’re trying to be martyrs and deliver using fewer players than those around them, it is simply about having the right people as part of their environment.
Following the denouement of last season Richard Cockerill took the opportunity to review his squad and in his words ‘make sure that everyone in the squad was someone that you’d want to pick in the first team squad’. As a result their list of departures is fairly sizeable and they will be running off a smaller base of players. Let’s be clear this isn’t because they’re trying to be martyrs and deliver using fewer players than those around them, it is simply about having the right people as part of their environment.
Last season a number of Leicester’s new signings surprised the competition with their positive impact as the likes of Telusa Veianu, Peter Betham and Lachlan McCaffery made names for themselves. The exciting thing is that there's much more to come from this relatively new group and that's because some didn't get the game time they wanted, like Brendon O'Connor, and others will continue to flourish with a season of Premiership experience in the bank.
This time around many of Leicester's new entrants, JP Pietersen, Luke Hamilton, Tom Brady, Ellis Genge and Matt Toomua as examples, are already known so shouldn't catch the competition unawares. The latter is considered by his Director of Rugby to be one of their most important signings. The rationale regarding that statement is the fact that he is designed to fill the role that Anthony Allen left vacant when he was forced to retire from the game. Anthony was the glue that gelled their back line together, he was their unsung hero and with the Australian's experience and skill set he's set to perform from day one and bind everything together.
This time around many of Leicester's new entrants, JP Pietersen, Luke Hamilton, Tom Brady, Ellis Genge and Matt Toomua as examples, are already known so shouldn't catch the competition unawares. The latter is considered by his Director of Rugby to be one of their most important signings. The rationale regarding that statement is the fact that he is designed to fill the role that Anthony Allen left vacant when he was forced to retire from the game. Anthony was the glue that gelled their back line together, he was their unsung hero and with the Australian's experience and skill set he's set to perform from day one and bind everything together.
On paper Leicester’s opening fixtures are not horrendous, compared with a few others, and they should be aiming to finish that maiden block of six in the upper echelons of the table. Pre-season must have been productive as their DOR has said that he's 'pretty pleased' with it and we all know that in Richard Cockerill doesn't give compliments out easily. Neither him nor Aaron will have taken any prisoners and the additional contact time with the Kiwi should have continued to mould and refine the club's attacking strategy.
Leicester didn't constantly hit their straps last season and things did go a little topsy turvy under intense pressure, I'm thinking about their Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92 as an example. So, constant high output will be their aim and of course ensuring that Manu Tuilagi is fit enough to play a big role for the duration of the 2016-17 season.
Leicester didn't constantly hit their straps last season and things did go a little topsy turvy under intense pressure, I'm thinking about their Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92 as an example. So, constant high output will be their aim and of course ensuring that Manu Tuilagi is fit enough to play a big role for the duration of the 2016-17 season.
Opening Six Matches: Gloucester (A), Wasps (H), Newcastle Falcons (A), Bath (H), Sale Sharks (A), Worcester Warriors (H)
Key Focus: Adding more layers onto their ‘new’ strategy and philosophy while retaining the heart of the Tigers' historic strengths.
Ins: Tom Brady (Sale Sharks), Pat Cilliers (Montpellier), Ellis Genge (Bristol Rugby), George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), JP Pietersen (Stormers), Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
Outs: Matias Aguero (Provence Rugby), Seremaia Bai (retired), Tommy Bell (London Irish), Miles Benjamin (retired), Gonzalo Camacho, Jordan Crane (Bristol Rugby), Sebastian de Chaves (London Irish), Jean de Villiers (retired), Jake Farnworth, Leonardo Ghiraldini (Toulouse), Vereniki Goneva (Newcastle Falcons), Christian Loamanu (Provence Rugby), Niall Morris (Leinster Rugby), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Treviso), Laurence Pearce (Sale Sharks), Aniseko Sio, George Tresidder (Rotherham Titans), Michael van Vuuren (Bath Rugby), Jake Farnworth (Birmingham Moseley), Opeti Fonua (Newcastle Falcons)
Ins: Tom Brady (Sale Sharks), Pat Cilliers (Montpellier), Ellis Genge (Bristol Rugby), George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), JP Pietersen (Stormers), Matt Toomua (Brumbies)
Outs: Matias Aguero (Provence Rugby), Seremaia Bai (retired), Tommy Bell (London Irish), Miles Benjamin (retired), Gonzalo Camacho, Jordan Crane (Bristol Rugby), Sebastian de Chaves (London Irish), Jean de Villiers (retired), Jake Farnworth, Leonardo Ghiraldini (Toulouse), Vereniki Goneva (Newcastle Falcons), Christian Loamanu (Provence Rugby), Niall Morris (Leinster Rugby), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Treviso), Laurence Pearce (Sale Sharks), Aniseko Sio, George Tresidder (Rotherham Titans), Michael van Vuuren (Bath Rugby), Jake Farnworth (Birmingham Moseley), Opeti Fonua (Newcastle Falcons)
