Leicester Tigers 2022-23 season preview - prediction, signings, ones to watch
Ben Youngs has spoken about being 'energised' ahead of the new season
©PA
Can the Tigers defend their crown?
It has been quite the summer of change at Mattioli Woods Welford Road after last season’s title-winning exploits.
How will they deal with the loss of two of their key players in Ellis Genge and George Ford?
This is the biggest question going into the new campaign but when you look at their business, they have done their utmost to replace quality with quality in the form of Handré Pollard, Jimmy Gopperth and Anthony Watson.
Not many expected Steve Borthwick to pick up silverware so early on in his coaching career so it will be interesting to see how he deals with the added expectation this time around.
Last time out
Last season couldn’t have gone any better for Tigers as they finished top of the table and went on to win the final thanks to a 15-12 victory over Saracens in June.
Borthwick built a strong and reliable squad who all knew their roles and under an inspired George Ford at fly-half, their backline was unleashed.
Leicester finished on 94 points, seven points clear of second place, in a campaign many at Mattioli Woods Welford Road will never forget.
Borthwick’s men only lost four times last season and their first defeat didn’t come until the start of January against Wasps at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
If they can replicate anything like that this time around, then they will once again be challenging for the title.
Incomings:
Handré Pollard (Fly-half) from Montpellier
James Cronin (Loosehead Prop) from Biarritz
Phil Cokanasiga (Centre) from London Irish
Olly Cracknell (Back Row) from London Irish
Jimmy Gopperth (Fly-Half) from Wasps
Anthony Watson (Full-back) from Bath Rugby
Joe Taufete’e (Hooker) from LA Giltinis
Lachlan Shelley (Full-back) from Eastwood
Tom Horton (Hooker) from NSW Waratahs on a short-term deal
Outgoings:
George Ford (Fly-half) to Sale Sharks
Ellis Genge (Loosehead Prop) to Bristol Bears
Matias Moroni (Centre) to Newcastle Falcons
Jordan Olowofela (Winger) to Nottingham
Juan Pablo Socino (Centre) to UE Santboiana
Nemani Nadolo (Winger) to NSW Waratahs
Bryce Hegarty (Full-back) to Western Force
Sam Aspland-Robinson (Winger) to Rosslyn Park
Tomiwa Agbongbon (Back Row) to Loughborough Students
Jonny Law (Scrum-half) to Jersey Reds
Olly Robinson (Back Row) returned to Cardiff Rugby
Jack Rowntree (Tighthead Prop) released
Marco van Staden (Back Row) released
Jaco Taute (Centre) retired
Areas of strength
Leicester Tigers’ quality in terms of depth, experience and sheer ability at scrum-half is envied by every team across the Premiership.
Ben Youngs - up until last year - was England’s go-to number nine but as he gets older, Eddie Jones is starting to ease him out of his squad.
This has, like many other players, made him up his game and perform to a higher level.
This added incentive to perform has helped Leicester as they now have three quality nines all fighting for the same jersey.
At 39-years-old, Richard Wigglesworth has taken a step back over recent seasons as shown by his player-coach role at Mattioli Woods Welford Road but his experience and know-how will be invaluable to young Jack Van Poortvliet who is learning his trade.
Van Poortvliet showcased his qualities for Leicester and then England during the summer and he will believe this is the season he can take the starting club jersey off Youngs.
This strength in depth continues in the other half-back position.
Despite the loss of Ford this summer, Tigers still have one of the best trios of 10s in the Premiership in new signings Pollard and Gopperth as well as final hero Freddie Burns.
All three are classy operators with vast experience across the globe, but most importantly, on the biggest rugby stages.
Gopperth comes to Leicester as the league’s third all-time points scorer and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the young backs at the club but also to South African, Pollard, who has never played in the Premiership.
Between Pollard, Gopperth and Burns, Tigers can guarantee a level-head will always be on the pitch to dictate their attack.
Areas of weakness
The Ellis Genge Factor once again…
How will the title holders deal with losing their key player in the front-row?
The ‘Baby Rhino’ played 17 games out of the 24 last campaign and was arguably the league’s best loosehead.
The serial ball carrier will be a huge miss for Tigers who will lose his leadership skills which were vitally important to young forwards such as Joe Heyes and Ollie Chessum.
It remains to be seen who will take his place in the front-row between new signing James Cronin and Nephi Leatigaga, but one thing is for sure they won’t be able to match the levels he brought last term.
Will the absence of Genge also impact the strength of Leicester’s scrum which is so important for the side to gain forward momentum?
The other huge loss this off-season was talismanic fly-half Ford to top-four rivals Sale Sharks.
Ford was a man possessed in 2021-22 as he showed Eddie Jones why he should still be the starting 10 for England.
Ford had been with the Tigers since 2017 scoring 991 points for the Midlands side.
He ended his Leicester career in the best way possible - winning the Gallagher Premiership title - but he will be frustrated he couldn’t have been on the pitch due to a first-half Achilles injury.
How Borthwick and his squad react to his departure will be one of the biggest questions at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this season, but the arrival of Pollard will help them move on quickly.
Despite the world-class ability the Springbok possesses, it will still be difficult for fans and players alike to adjust to life without Ford.
Opening fixtures
Round 1: Exeter Chiefs (A)
Round 2: Newcastle Falcons (H)
Round 3: Northampton Saints (A)
Round 4: Saracens (A)
Round 5: Sale Sharks (H)
The Tigers defence of their title starts in quite difficult fashion with three testing away days in their first five matches.
Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park will be a tough atmosphere to go into on the opening weekend while a derby at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on matchday three will be a raucous occasion, especially after last season’s semi-final between the pair.
Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks at home are must-win games for the reigning champions if they want to be in the top four picture once again.
Predicted line-up:
1. Nephi Leatigaga
2. Julian Montoya
3. Joe Heyes
4. Harry Wells
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Hanro Liebenberg
7. Tommy Reffell
8. Jasper Wiese
9. Ben Youngs
10. Handré Pollard
11. Harry Potter
12. Dan Kelly
13. Guy Porter
14. Anthony Watson
15. Freddie Steward
Predicted finish: 3rd
Many have argued that Tigers’ squad has improved in the off-season with the signings of Pollard, Watson and Gopperth, but the loss of Ford and Genge will still be felt in the Midlands.
I do think Borthwick and his troops might struggle at the start of the campaign with the pressure of being reigning champions, especially on the road.
If they can overcome the tough beginning, they should be fine to make the top four with the quality they have in their ranks.
Ultimately, their squad on paper is play-off material and they should still qualify for the semi-finals, but it will be more of a test than last season.
