European heartbreak for Saffas

European heartbreak for Saffas

1 Nov 2008

Heyneke Meyer’s Leicester Tigers and Butch James’ Bath crashed out of the EDF Energy Cup on Friday.

Despite their 30-20 victory over the Sale Sharks, the Tigers were eliminated by virtue of the fact that Cardiff beat Bath in the other pool match to advance.

The Tigers led 13-0 at the break but squandered that lead and were forced to scrap in the second half, where a injury-time try from Jordan Crane finally sealed the result. Former Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard kicked 13 points.

“Our first priorities are the Premiership and the Heineken Cup but we want to win every single trophy,” Meyer said. “It was always going to be tough to have two away games and one at home.

“I thought we lost our composure after half-time, which was unacceptable. There were a lot of new guys in there but we can play a lot better. It was a tougher game than we needed.”

Meanwhile in Cardiff, James was rested for Bath’s final pool game which his side controlled for large periods.

They were, however, blunted by some outstanding defence and eventually succumbed, with constant infringements at the breakdown hurting them badly as Ben Blair slotted four penalties.


34 Comments

  • 1.Lucky-Luk: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 06:26 am

    Loser Dragon

  • 2.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 07:20 am

    Come back to Pretoria Heyneke ,please !!!

  • 3.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 07:30 am

    Resting James cost Bath a semi-final, the replacement flyhalf was a centre and couldn’t play an effective wide game.

  • 4.strikers: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:19 am

    European heartbreak for Saffas – hardly, Tigers won, and Butch didn’t play! I guess it is European heartbreak for Saffa Rep Teams? lol, i dunno just making noise.

    Sucks that MediaZone don’t show the Prem, I would like to watch some of these games

  • 5.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:26 am

    #3 Big Hit: Here’s a fun fact, Big Hit: Between 2000 and 2008 the Six Nations lost 86 percent of their games played in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. They were slightly more successful at home, winning 37 percent of those games against the Tri-Nations.

  • 6.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:31 am

    #5 kaksioek: so what you’re actually saying is that the 3N teams have only won 63% of their games in Europe???

  • 7.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:33 am

    #6 brains_trust: That’s correct. I got the figures from an article about Aus and NZ saying they are going to start demanding money for touring the NH because the 6N send such kak teams on their SH tours.

  • 8.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:33 am

    take NZL and Italy out of the equasion and things will look rather bleak !

    Please then give me the stats…. [2000 to 2008, combined SA & Aussie win % in Europe, excluding games against Italy]

  • 9.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:36 am

    #6 brains_trust: Actually, I take that back. Read the sentence again: The 6N won only 37 percent of their games against the 3N IN EUROPE!

  • 10.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:36 am

    #9 kaksioek: They won only 14 percent in the SH!

  • 11.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:36 am

    #5 kaksioek: Between 2000 and 2008 at Twickenham England’s record is:

    v Aus is played 6 won 5
    v SA is played 5 won 4
    v NZ is played 3 won 1

    the Scots/Itas are pulling us down :)

  • 12.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:37 am

    #9 kaksioek: but that’s what I said: 3N only won 67% of their games in Europe

  • 13.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:38 am

    #11 Big Hit: Fair enough, but it puts the two tournaments in perspective — doesn’t it?

  • 14.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:38 am

    throw in 2 consecutive World Cup finals there too! :)

  • 15.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:39 am

    #11 Big Hit: one can’t deny that the English record at Twickers is damn good ! :-)

  • 16.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:39 am

    #12 brains_trust: Sorry, quite correct.

  • 17.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:39 am

    any bets on a score for the HGK game in 1 hours time?

  • 18.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:39 am

    #12 brains_trust: 67 percent away is still very good, home advantage counts for a lot.

  • 19.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:40 am

    #13 kaksioek: not really, it shows the smaller teams like Fiji and Argentina are cruelly shut out in the SH whereas in the NH we let teams like Italy join the party :)

  • 20.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:41 am

    #17 brains_trust: Very hard to say. I tend to agree with someone else who said it will be quite a highscoring game despite the heat. All Blacks to win.

  • 21.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:41 am

    I say low scoring (due to the heat) and in opposition to the general mood on this site – I hv a feeling that Deano’s boys could well take it.

  • 22.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:42 am

    I would say that the ABs have a better record in Europe than any other European side let alone touring side

  • 23.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:43 am

    #22 church – like chch but pronounceable: And what would you say about their WC record?

  • 24.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:46 am

    #22 church – like chch but pronounceable: I’d also say NZL have a better record in NZL that any other home nation. In fact i’d say that NZL have a better record in SA that any other touring side, in fact I’d say that NZL have a better record in AUSSIE that any other touring side, in fact i’d say that NZL have a better record in XZY….that any other touring side, …….. you get what I’m saying.

    BUT — they have a KAK world cup record / win ration….

  • 25.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:46 am

    true dat

  • 26.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:47 am

    Cheers all, got to make my way to the pub.

  • 27.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 08:59 am

    #23 kaksioek:

    NZ 30 wins
    Aus 28 wins
    France 26 wins
    England 25 wins
    SA 21 wins

  • 28.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 09:00 am

    #24 brains_trust:

    How is 2nd best WC win ratio kak?

  • 29.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 09:02 am

    #24 brains_trust:

    Most people are fooled into thinking this but NZ have only lost 6 WC games

  • 30.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 12:05 pm

    #29 church – like chch but pronounceable: wow so they win their group stages by 100 point margins – well done. Most top tier teams only lose once per world cup [except the winners who usually go through unbeaten - like SA did in 95 & 2007]

  • 31.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 12:20 pm

    #30 brains_trust:

    Actually in every World Cup there has ever been a top tier team has lost twice!

    1987 Australia
    1991 England
    1995 England
    1999 New Zealand
    2003 France
    2007 France

    So as you can see you are completely wrong

  • 32.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 12:27 pm

    To give even more perspective on your once per World Cup thing …. despite World Cup wins France has lost 9 times and Australia 10

  • 33.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 12:28 pm

    #32 church – like chch but pronounceable:

    Sorry … England lost 10 not Australia

  • 34.cyberscamp: Reply to this comment
    1 Nov 2008, 20:43 pm

    The EDF cup is a pretty minor competition – hence that fact that most English teams rest their key players during these games.

    However Meyer will come in for flack if he persists with Hougaard in stead of Flood. Flood’s creativity adds unpredictability to the Tigers which Hougaard simply cannot.

    However Meyer has dragged Hougaard here as “insurance” and now needs to put him to use.

    The only possible option is fullback – but the Tigers have Geordan Murphy – who is a star player in any team.

    In short Meyer has made a mistake and it is going to be both interesting and a test of his character to see how he resolves this issue – club sucess of loyalty to Hougaard? Tricky!

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