I was lucky enough to attend the weekly Leicester Tigers Press Conference yesterday, Tuesday 15th November. We were joined by Brett Deacon of the coaching staff, and players Emeka Ilione and Joseph Woodward. This is my write up of the chat.
Brett Deacon
Brett Deacon spoke about how he was looking forward to the reaction from the Leicester Tigers’ side selected to play Saracens at the weekend. Speaking ahead of the last Premiership Cup fixture for Tigers in the competition, he looked forward to the challenge as well as how his side would “stick to their game plan” against such tough opponents.
Tigers have had an up and down campaign in their Premiership Cup campaign so far; something that Deacon stated himself, after their win over Wasps combined with defeats to Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons. Deacon described their campaign as being “mixed”. As a result they go into Saturday’s game away at Saracens knowing that progression is not going to be possible.
Despite that, Deacon was still looking forward to the challenge of playing at the Stonex Stadium against their London rivals. When asked about what he was looking for from his side selected, he instantly replied with “how well do they stick to the game plan over the 80 minutes, when tested, how hard do they keep fighting, as that is this club’s DNA”.
Deacon added, “the players are desperate to win and have success, the biggest thing is performance. The players want to progress, and looking forward to the challenge of Saracens.”
Tigers have traditionally used the Premiership Cup as a development competition, to allow their junior squad members to get some meaningful gametime under their belts. This year has been no different, with the Tigers’ Senior Academy squad coming to the fore in team selection for each game. When asked about the youthful nature of the teams selected, Deacon replied, “age is irrelevant – if you’re good enough you’ll play. Others have come in and have done that, for example Sean Jansen.”
The Premiership is also a good opportunity for those in the squad to demonstrate they are ready to make the leap into Tigers’ first team, and enter into the selection thoughts for League and European fixtures. Deacon mentioned three players in particular who have used the competition to further their ambitions for first team duty.
“Sean Jansen has put his hands up to be selected and made big strides forward. Emeka Ilione has been a menace around the breakdown, and Sam Edwards has really impressed with his game management and working with Wiggy (Richard Wigglesworth) on that.”
Tigers have also been consistent with their team selections for the tournament, with many players playing all three games so far, pointing towards what the selection will be at the weekend. Deacon acknowledged that this was to help “cohesion from training together,” adding, “we’ve used a lot of our own players, along with brilliant help from Nottingham and Loughborough.”
Looking ahead to the weekend and the trip to North London, Tigers take on a Saracens team that have gone through a transformation as a club in their playing style. Famed for their rush defence, smart kicking and pragmatism, Saracens are a club this season look a completely different outfit as they now show a lot more willing to throw the ball around and play with a more attacking style. Indeed in the league encounter at the same venue at the start of October, Leicester were undone several times from wave after wave of Saracens’ attacking flair, as they went down to a heavy 51-18 defeat.
When asked about the new style of play that Saracens have formed, Deacon acknowledged there was a difference in style and they now looked “freed up” in how they approach. However he also added, “we will plan and be ready for either playing or running.”
The fixture may have nothing riding on it, however from a Tigers perspective it is far from a dead rubber.
Emeka Ilione
Emeka Ilione is looking to “improve consistency” in his game as he strives to make his first Premiership appearance for Leicester Tigers. Ilione is another talented young forward coming through from the famous Oval Park production line, following in the footsteps of Joe Heyes, George Martin and Tommy Reffell who have also made that transition into first team duty.
Ilione is of course facing two challenges currently, firstly making it as a professional rugby player for Leicester Tigers, as well as undertaking medical studies at University of Nottingham. Either would be a stretch for anyone, however Ilione is unfazed. “I’m enjoying the course, it’s tough but battling it is fun.”
So how does he do it? “the key is getting as organised as early as possible. Uni have been very good, and meant no training time is missed, and schedule organised around the Leicester timetable. The scholarship team have helped, to allow me to focus.”
When asked about whether the medical studies have helped the rugby, or vice versa, Ilione replied, “the rugby has helped with the medical side. That resilience and being in a team environment. Also when things have not gone to plan, to focus on what to do next time.”
Illione has been an ever-present in the Premiership Cup squads selected by Brett Deacon, impressing with the Tigers faithful with his strong ball-carrying prowess and being a breakdown nuisance. In the home fixture against Wasps he also added try scoring to his armoury following a powerful run to the line. When asked about how he felt he has gone in the competition, he replied, “Personally it has been good, good performances and overall positive.”
The Mansfield born backrow is in good company at Leicester and faces fierce competition for places. Despite Jasper Wiese being away with South Africa and Tommy Reffell with Wales, George Martin, Hanro Leibenberg and Olly Cracknell all started the league game against Bath last Friday night. However being surrounded by such players is seen as a positive by the 20 year old – “I’m always comparing myself against the other backrows. I don’t model myself on another player, but I take the different aspects of their games. Tommy (Reffell) over the ball, Jasper (Wiese) with his carrying and George Martin with his defence. I try and take something from it.”
Now part of the senior academy side at Leicester, the young backrow gets to spend his time training in and alongside the first team squad. Whilst describing that step-up as initially “definitely very tough”, he is now enjoying being part of that challenge, going on to describe the experience as a “privilege”.
The coaching staff have also helped, “Matty Everard has come in and helped me and been really good for me. It feels like I have 1 on 1 coaching with him, as he’s picking up on things, trying to improve my consistency.”
Looking ahead towards the rest of the season, the Ilione stated his aims were to be “consistently training and playing well and putting my hands up for selection. Then taking those opportunities when they come,” adding “I’m working towards a first team appearance, but looking at how do I get better?”
For such a young man, Ilione is an impressive figure, and has a mature head on him. He is a player that has impressed so far in his few appearances in a Tigers shirt, with many fans excited to see how he develops further. On the evidence so far, Ilione is a good position to keep that development going further.
Joseph Woodward
Joseph Woodward has described his first year in the senior academy at Leicester Tigers as a “big challenge and exciting to play with a good team.”
The 19 year-old centre who has also appeared as a fly-half, has come through the academy ranks and has started all three of the previous Premiership Cup games for Tigers. In that time he has forged a good relationship and understanding with fellow academy graduate Jacob Cusick and will look to impress again at the weekend if selected.
Woodward has enjoyed his first few appearances in a Tigers shirt – “been a really challenge playing centre. I want to build that connection with Jacob Cusick. It has been good to test ourselves against other teams.
Woodward has had a tougher journey than previous members, in graduating from an academy that is notorious for being so challenging anyway. The centre joined the academy just as the Covid-19 global pandemic was taking hold, which made that development even more of a challenge, as Woodward described: “First year of the academy was very weird due to Covid, the second year however was really good. The first year was a much shorter academy season due to Covid and was more limited, the second year was more normal.”
The academy system is there for bringing young players through into the first team, however it also has other functions – “there is a good emphasis on making memories and developing us as humans. It is not just rugby focussed.”
As part of the senior academy Woodward has access to a knowledge bank that can only be good for his development. Leicester are blessed with a lot of experience in their backline, with numerous players now in their 30’s and able to impart their knowledge. Woodward credited summer signing for Tigers, Jimmy Gopperth, as being a big help for him, “I couldn’t have asked for better, he’s helped with my kicking as well as my composure. He looks like he has so much time on the ball”.
The coaches have also been assisting in his development, including a Tigers stalwart who’s now part of the coaching set up at Leicester. “I’ve worked with Matt Smith to get my defence being more dominant and being more connected.”
Woodward is a player that is admired by many and is seen as one that has huge potential to develop further. When asked about his strengths, he replied as them being, “reading the game, getting the most out of those around me, knowing what the defence are doing.”
When asked about future goals and ambitions, Woodward is not looking too far in the future- “I’m not setting goals, I’m just trying to get better. I’m learning as much as I can and try to keep going. If selected Saturday, I’m aiming to put a performance I’ll be proud of and look to execute our game plan.”
Woodward is no relation to the ex-England Head Coach, however he is a centre that many are looking out for and have high hopes about his future. So far he has impressed, and looks in a good position to develop further