Tigers v Sarries - Saturday 21st May at 12-30

[DaveRave]

I prefer to think of myself as an eternal optimist rather than a 'happy clapper' and I'll cheer the Tigers until my last breath but - that try by Cashton on 71 minutes was a capitulation. The season did not deserve that ending.

But rather appropriate that the season should end with a knock on.

[fortysix]

Transition..
Rebuilding
Pah...!!!!!!
Yet another season without anything .

[maroontrunks]

Well realistically, we didn't have much of a chance today. Frustratingly, we didn't manage to turn any of our creativity into points in the first half. Nonetheless, with Saracens' dominance, there's a lesson to be learned about executing those opportunities and we could become the team we hope to be with a bit more pragmatism. I am now an Exeter supporter until Saturday!

[LE18]

Thrashed by a much better team, some effort from us in second half but we need a few new players with good ball skills, including a scrum half who des not run across the field before passing hospital passes out!

[SIBARITE]

Transition..
Rebuilding
Pah...!!!!!!
Yet another season without anything .

Come on all you keyboard warriors. Who ya gonna blame now?

[G.K]

Just not good enough against the top teams, writing has been on the wall some time now. Not made any progress in the AP this year and the only reason we got so far in the HC was because we had an easier draw. I'm expecting it will be similar next season.

[Tigersunited]

Well, where does the buck stop in a professional sport club?

[Doghashadhisday]

We actually won the second half 17-13. Pity we gave them 4 tries in the first half.

[Jose]

To be fair, when Sarries have turned up at full strength nobody has got near them all year. Itoje is phenomenal. Just better than us, but they have been building to this for 5 years plus, and not having to comply with the salary cap has enabled them to keep all their players and steal other people's, hence why they have a better squad and team. Unfortunately absent financial fair play rules in rugby, think we might have to see quite a lot of this for next 3-5 years, though see no reason why we can't get much closer to them as we build a way of playing and gel a squad together. Not too pessimistic - think we're short an 8 and a tight head prop to back up Cole, and possibly a SH to push Youngs, but given a fair run and players like O'Connor, Williams, Fitzgerald, Betham, Toomua all having a full pre-season, we should be fine. No point wailing about it and slating the players.

[fortysix]

Exactly, we have been on a revolving wagon wheel for a number of years under Cockerill

Tigers through and through he may be, but surely, with our History and Crowd support, we should be much much better than we are .

To allow Saracens to come into the equation, and build a very solid, virtually unbeatable squad, shows how far we have fallen

And dont bleat about the salary cap, pleeeeeeeeeeeeease!

[sapajo]

Naive, inaccurate, missed tackles, panicky, hot headed, to slow to the breakdown and they were the highlights

[BeeJ]

People are quick to blame Cockers but is he the one knocking the ball on? Is he the one throwing intercept passes? Is he the one getting turned over in the tackle?

[smalldell]

It all depends now on the Mauger revolution!

I think we will either see a new exciting Leicester or I think there will be wholesale coaching changes

Remember this year has been about laying the foundations

[TigerCam]

Thrashed by a much better team, some effort from us in second half but we need a few new players with good ball skills, including a scrum half who des not run across the field before passing hospital passes out!

Mauger said when he first arrived that the players need to learn to pass the ball and improve hand-skills. While there has been improvement and a distinct change in style of play, if players do have these skills in abundance then it is going to take more than one season to get it to stick. In any sport, there is always the tendency to revert to type when under pressure. It has taken over 4 years for the Sarries to get where they are, they have had a strong base provided by their SA affiliation and their academy and use of Bedford to nurture youngsters is and will continue to pay off. Early days so my glass is still half full despite the dicking the Tigers took today.

[Bristol Tiger]

Lots of doom and gloom on here!

We were awful in the first half but it was our mistakes, usually attacking in the Saracens half. If we can tighten up our skills, continue to develop fitness and the defensive system we have, then we should be looking at a top two finish. We'll struggle to win semifinals away from home so let's start getting back to home semi-finals and who knows where we will get too.

Thought Genge looks good. Hope we keep him!