Leicester Tigers Season Preview: Michael Cheika looking to make his own piece of history

Leicester Tigers Season Preview

Coach: Michael Cheika

Captain: Julián Montoya

The Tigers started last season with four defeats in five matches and finished it with two victories in their last six.

In between, they showed their potential in a seven-match run that was blemished only by defeat at Exeter with Northampton, Bath and Saracens among the sides vanquished.

It was Dan McKellar’s first season in charge after replacing Steve Borthwick as head coach.

It turned out to be his last as, having prepared for the new campaign by recruiting players and changing his coaching team, he returned to Australia.

He was replaced by another Australian, Michael Cheika, who coached Australia and Argentina in World Cup campaigns, and who, having coached in the now United Rugby Championship with Leinster and the Top 14 with Stade Francais, achieved his personal triple crown with a Premiership posting.

Leicester won the last of their 11 Premiership titles two years ago and are the best supported club in England with the biggest reputation.

Embracing the Challenge

“I have been in an environment like this before and I like the challenge,” he said on a recent BBC podcast.

“Often other people do not like you because of that reputation and I like to be in that position.

“You have to embrace it as it is a reason why you came here.

“You want to learn about the history and make some of your own. If I did not want this challenge, I would not have taken it.

“I had spoken to Leicester in the past but the timing was not right.

“When they approached me this year I was in the running for a (rugby) league job in Australia, something I am interested in doing. I told them that.

“But I felt, and I do not know why, that it was the right time.

“My wife told me to go for it: I had not been in the Premiership before and it was a chance for me. My priority is to get a handle on what the standard is and where we need to be really quickly.”

Tough Start

Cheika’s Leicester start with a trip to Exeter.

They have won only one of their last nine league matches at Sandy Park and only Northampton and Bath, who went on to contest the Premiership final, triumphed there last season.

“I have never been there but I know it will be tough,” said Cheika

“Let’s get into it and go after it. I see this job as not about me but working with the players so they get the best out of themselves.

“Confidence comes and goes but you need belief. Everyone is a hero going downhill.

“When we have to run uphill let us enjoy it. How can we stay in games longer and how do we get out of troubled moments?

“I want to win straight away and I have expectations of myself, not the players.”

“Last season was not the best for Leicester but a lot of good things happened.

“I want to make sure that they stay and that we build on them. I want to make change quickly and positively, not change for change’s sake.”

A 10-team league with little separating most of the clubs means there is little let-up.

After Exeter, the Tigers face Bath at home and travel to Newcastle before welcoming Northampton at Welford Road for the East Midlands derby.

Key Outs

They will be without South Africa outside-half Handre Pollard and Argentina hooker Julian Montoya, Cheika’s captain in last year’s World Cup, for the opening rounds, but they will have their England contingent available along with the Wales flanker Tommy Reffell.

South Africa No.8 Jasper Wiese will be a big miss, but the arrival of Wales prop Nicky Smith will fortify the tight five and with the likes of Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, George Martin and Hanro Liebenberg on the books, Cheika has a pack that will not often concede ground.

Leicester were outliers in the Premiership last season in opting for a kicking strategy rather than keeping the ball alive.

The only try bonus points they picked up were against the bottom two and an under-strength Bath before the arrival of Exeter on the final day of the regular season.

Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet got Leicester running then after missing of the season through injury and he will be key if the Tigers are to embrace the new order.

Ins and Outs

IN: Corne Beets (Bulls), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), below, Izaia Perese (Waratahs), Finn Carnduff, Tim Hoyt, Emeka Ilione, Tom Manz, Archie Vanes, Joseph Woodward (all Academy), Will Wand (Coventry), Ben Volavola (Agen)

OUT: Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks), below, Phil Cokanasiga (Ospreys), Francois van Wyk (Bath), Nic Dolly (Western Force), Sam Edwards, Jacob Cusick (both Bristol Bears), Simon Koroiyadi, Morgan Meredith (both released), Kieran Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Richardson (Nottingham), Ollie Crane (Leicester Lions), Guy Porter (retired), Matt Scott (Edinburgh)