Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Leicester come back against Ospreys in Welford Road classic

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Leicester come back against Ospreys in Welford Road classic

The Leicester Tigers overcame a 26-8 deficit to fight back at Welford Road against the Ospreys in their opening Heineken Cup match. They earned a 32-32 draw after a pulsating second half comeback.

The injury-ravaged side lost four key players before kick-off and found themselves facing an on form Ospreys side who raced into the lead with tries by Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe. Teenage flyhalf Dan Biggar was faultless with the boot, ending with a personal tally of 22 points.

The Tigers however had a young man named Billy Twelvetrees in their lineup, after he came in as a late replacement. He took his chance with both hands, scoring a try and slotting 9 points with the boot to earn the Man of the Match award, on debut.

Johne Murphy, Lucas Amorosino, and Jeremy Staunton all scored tries, contributing to their four-try bonus point. It was quite a feat considering they were without the likes of Geordan Murphy, Toby Flood, Sam Vesty, Harry Ellis, Matt Smith, and centre pairing Aaron Mauger and Dan Hipkiss.

Leicester coach Richard Cockerill summed up the fighting spirit.

"We had players unavailable and pulling out at the last minute. The attitude to just go out and play and not give up is what this side is about. The spirit of the players today was fantastic.

“We pride ourselves on having people who want to play for us and not for the money.

“You can buy a team but you can't buy spirit.”

Man of the match Twelvetrees, who only found out he’d be playing 10 minutes before kick off, described it as a dream come true.

"It is what every boy dreams of, playing in the Heineken Cup for Leicester Tigers who are such a prestigious side. I loved every minute of it," said Twelvetrees.

"He did some good things in pre-season after being on loan at Bedford but everyone has to earn the right to play in the side - he got in by luck and took his chance," said coach Cockerill.

Time: 04:39

first

By Mr P, at October 14, 2009 9:54 am
dont know what billy dozentrees had at half time but was brilliant in secound half out the blue the tigers find another fly half

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 10:11 am
looked like a good match - but lots of holes in defence ? good continuity and hands shown by both teams though

By jamestheconvict, at October 14, 2009 10:21 am
is tht soialio??? it looks like him

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 10:41 am
they cloned Moody have they? taken all the metal out of his legs and found he's got pace to burn... stick the clone out in the centers, give him a preposterous name... no one will ever know.

Let's hope the Tigers find a way to give both Billy and Anthony Allen plenty of time in the side.

By hackney Griffin, at October 14, 2009 11:09 am
What that highlights clip doesn't show is that Leicester were absolutely destroying the Ospreys scrum in the second half, other than some bizarre refereeing, they really could have won it at the end there.

Unfortunately for the Ospreys, they aren't going to win the H Cup until they can scrummage! They were missing the two Jones up front but nevertheless their second choice front row was mauled!!!!!!!

Very exciting start for Billy Twelvetrees and what a come back given that injury list.

By John F, at October 14, 2009 11:28 am
Rugby dump please show us the highlights of racing metro vs wasps.

By Jong, at October 14, 2009 11:44 am
What the article doesn't say is that we were so depleted by injury that

a) we had to exercise a clause in a contract of young centre Tom Youngs (who we sold last year) that he can come back and bench for us in emergencies, but we can only play him as a last resort

and b) when anthony allen went off, we had to play craig newby (a flanker) at inside centre

and the fact that they still managed to rip up a backline with FIVE british lions in it was quite amazing.

By iceman!, at October 14, 2009 11:47 am
Haha, so funny... Journey man Hamilton from the Southern Hemisphere can just glide through the defense whenever he wants.

By Kiwibro, at October 14, 2009 11:49 am
where is toby flood?

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 12:17 pm
flood injured expected back december i think

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 12:40 pm
Dozentrees was incredible... if it weren't for that pile of rubbish that is Staunton, Tigers would have won comfortably. The article doesn't mention his miss tackle and god awful pass that both led to Osprey tried and his shocking kicking accuracy.

If Cockers can get over his misconception that Matt Smith is any good, Billy could help bring a much needed injection of creativity into the Tiger's back line.

Exciting as a Tigers and England supporter.

Also Dan Biggar deserves a mention, if I was welsh or an osprey's supported I would be excited about him.

By Unknown, at October 14, 2009 1:59 pm
I think the writer meant to say flawless performance with the boot by Osprey fly-half Dan Biggar (not Gibbar)!

By ChrisTheCanuk, at October 14, 2009 2:56 pm
i think biggar and dozentrees swaped kegs at half time

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 3:02 pm
also agree Staunton was crap looks like has no spirit and couldnt give a toss win or lose

well played billy ill be your mate

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 3:05 pm
Epic game but we should of put tigers away. The jones boys will be back next time we play so maybe we'll pinch it at home ;)
Hats off to tigers though, great stuff.

By WelshOsprey, at October 14, 2009 3:26 pm
Oh dear. Tiger player who didn't pass for the clear try at 2.54!!! Would have been a walk in

By Unknown, at October 14, 2009 3:28 pm
Fantastic game of rugby as a neutral. Although being english found myself going for Leicester despite watching it in a pub in Sketty, Swansea. I just kept my mouth shut (may have let out a squeek at the end but i don't think anyone noticed).

By Andy, at October 14, 2009 3:36 pm
Hah well spotted ChrisTheCanuk. My mistake. Speed writing early in the morning has it's downfalls. He is now back to being Mr Biggar. Cheers

By GMC, at October 14, 2009 3:38 pm
What has happened to Byrne? He gave up that second try by dropping the high ball, then he just watches the play. This is going to be one sad autumn series for Wales I'm afraid.

By Unknown, at October 14, 2009 4:44 pm
hm, doubt the referee saw that leciester ball grounded for the last 'try'

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 5:41 pm
hm, doubt the referee saw that leciester ball grounded for the last 'try'

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 5:41 pm
Does anyone else think Mike Philips should have been yellow-carded for his blatant double-knee to the face when Smallforest scored? And that horrible mess Tiatia just dived into a load of players after one of their other tries. If I was a Leicester player I'd be annoyed about both of those, although I'd be happy that they're stupid cunts rather than players who can win any important matches.

By Kearney for tests, at October 14, 2009 6:00 pm
kiwi flankers so talented they can play anywhere

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2009 6:12 pm
I laughed out loud at Hackney Griffin's comment about the moody clone. that made my day

By Jordan, at October 14, 2009 8:02 pm
The only reason Billy 'The Dream' Twelvetrees hasn't played for England yet is because the IRB have personally requested he doesn't until after the next World Cup as they would really like for New Zealand to win it one last time. If 'The Dream' was to play, all competitive rugby would be uncompetitive because he is just simply to damn good.

By Maximus, at October 14, 2009 8:28 pm
Ospreys to get their act together? Welford road is a hard place to play but if Tigers had so many injuries the Ospreys should have taken their chance and put them away.

By Unknown, at October 15, 2009 12:50 am
Nice to see Lucas González scoring a try again, I just want to see him as fullback, he isn't a winger really

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2009 1:58 am
The reverse fixture should be a cracker too.

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2009 3:01 am
Kinda boring, imo

By Duke Rudolph, at October 15, 2009 10:48 am
"Duke Rudolph said...
Kinda boring, imo"

Your post or a ride on your mother?

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2009 11:48 am
Duke Rudolph - if your find that boring then you just don't like rugby.

By Ted, at October 15, 2009 12:00 pm
'Anonymous said...
Do these rugby players get payed? because they all look like amateurs lol'

The sad part is, in a country where the game is not important, they still get paid more than players in the southern hemisphere.

That's the price you pay for living in a third world country, and your English skills are testament to why those places are so poor.

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2009 12:30 pm
haha ^

Well said, but lets not start bickering now. Everyone has been very well behaved recenty.

By Andy, at October 15, 2009 1:56 pm
I think that one of the more musically minded contributors to RugbyDump should compose a song that would unite the hemispheres in a spirit of peace, love, and the fraternal bond of sport.

This would then end all pro/anti SA comments. Maybe something like:

May our posts on this site be polite,
May this game cause all men to unite,
I pledge not to talk like a hater,
Just because you're from over the equator.

Verse 2 anyone?

By Phil, at October 15, 2009 4:48 pm
Billy Smallforest, lol
Incidentally, Moody used to be a centre before switching to back row (I always think he has pace for a forward, even he has lost a bit now)
Those young guns were looking very promising, and I really hope AA will eventually come through for England (though Geragty is on hot form)

By vinniechan, at October 15, 2009 4:52 pm
wow, nice job, Phil

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2009 6:59 pm
richard cockerhill said craig newby played centre is it a replacement option cos hes a fast flanker or is it going to be a permanent conversion to centre ??

By luxi, at October 15, 2009 8:42 pm
Newby at centre was only temporary coz Tigers had ran out of fit backs.

By Maximus, at October 16, 2009 4:07 pm
Nice one Phil. I do my best to remove the childish comments that are clearly aimed at winding up the NH/SH. If I miss them though, just ignore it.

The newly developed site will have better systems regarding this type of thing.

cheers

By GMC, at October 17, 2009 8:12 am
Billy Twelvetrees..

Sounds like the guy that played Tonto on the old Lone Ranger movies.

By Cheyanquí, at October 20, 2009 3:35 am