After the loss of a big asset in Steve Borthwick, Leicester are back in shape. Photo: David Rodgers/Getty Images
An unusual but compelling Premier League season is sure to contain at least one more wicked twist before it unfolds next month. And, despite the unprecedented disruption of the title defense, the champions still managed to keep the trophy.
Three months ago, after a 19-18 defeat to the Northampton Saints, which was the third consecutive defeat in the league, it seemed that Leicester Tigers would disappear. Clearly troubled by the departures of Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield, and having lost George Ford and Ellis Jenge over the summer, they lost momentum.
Since then, six consecutive victories have put them on the brink of the semi-finals. While other clubs have followed the Saracens and the Sale Sharks this season, the Tigers will not miss a chance. Here's how they saved themselves, and why they were able to go all the way again.
Smarter typing
Another year, another acquisition by a cunning backline operator after Christmas. Just as Chris Ashton arrived last year, Mike Brown joined the Tigers two months ago to provide Six Nations cover for Freddie Steward. Leicester have relied on super trained, experienced value-adding operators; if only because they were fiercely motivated to prove themselves. Once again, this policy has paid off handsomely.
Gallagher's Premier League table in 2022/23
Brown's debut came in a 24-18 win over Saracens that halted the rot and was exceptional. Ben Youngs, who made his 300th appearance for the club this weekend, suggested that Steward's new teammate's know-how has increased immeasurably.
Out of habit, over the past three years, the Tigers have vacated a place in the salary cap thanks to early departures. Freddie Burns and Nemani Nadolo recently left the team. Tom West, formerly the Wasp, was also an astute recruit. He had to play 76 minutes against the Exeter Chiefs due to an early injury to James Cronin.
In terms of coaching, the Tigers poached Matt Everard from the Wasps before Borthwick and Sinfield went to «Twickenham». After this abrupt outcome, Danny Wilson was assigned to add a lineout nous. Of course, the people at the top of the coaching department deserve a lot of respect.
Wigglesworth and Walters
Tom Harrison, Brett Deacon and Matt Smith, the latter of whom was seconded to oversee the England under-20s in the Six Nations, appear to have taken on additional responsibilities. Harrison is believed to be in contention to be England's scrum coach, a testament to his talents. thrives as the competition reaches the business end. No wonder Borthwick buys both of them.
Richard Wigglesworth stepped into the gap with his usual hardness. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Wigglesworth's surprise start in last season's Premier League final against the Saracens gave him a shot at a seventh national title and he clearly enjoys the skirmishes.< /p>
«People play the game for different purposes, but what you want at the end of your career is a lot of memories,» he said on Monday. «The best memories are from the biggest games, and you want to be in them.»
Walters' influence has been summed up just as succinctly. “We have the best specialists in what he does, so he will be a key figure for us,” Wigglesworth said. “Before the game, we were asked about our old players [in good condition]; i.e. Aled. We have a lot of young players, how good are they? This is Aled.
Together, the pair seem to form a complementary double act. As Youngs noted, Leicester effectively lost their offensive coach when Wigglesworth stepped down as player-manager to take over from Borthwick. Wigglesworth himself admitted that in the first weeks of his new role, he felt terrible because he stopped exercising.
Wigglesworth turned to this. He and Walters are now gym buddies, and the former Saracen is trying to shorten his 5k run by a few seconds. His personal best is currently 19.35. Naturally, next time he wants to break the 19-minute barrier.
André Pollard finds his way
It's not unfair that Handre Pollard wasn't as successful with the club and provincial teams as he was with the Springboks. When he was injured in a 51-18 win against the Saracens in October, it looked like a dubious decision to make him an important signing for Montpellier.
Moody Pollard's recent form has dispelled earlier doubts that international rugby would be his most suitable stage. Photo: David Rodgers/Getty Images
Pollard dispelled any doubts in this great sequence for Leicester by pairing pragmatic ground control with some bells and whistles. The chip 'n' chase against the Bristol Bears was amazing and his break hit the Exeter Chiefs this weekend ahead of Dan Kelly's first try. The Tigers have amassed 231 points in those six Premier League wins, 81 of them by Pollard.
Matt Scott's understatement and unexpected locks
In one of the inevitable embarrassments that all clubs face due to the capped salary cap, the Tigers sacked Matias Moroni last summer. As the popular Puma revealed on Instagram, he didn't want to leave. Leicester retained Matt Scott, a versatile and tough center capable of covering both midfield positions. Scott has been exceptional this season, his absence being keenly felt during the two Champions Cup play-off matches.
It is easy to single out a number of other faces. Julian Montoya and Tommy Reffell are the elite scavengers. Jasper Wiese is reminiscent of a runaway train, and the devastating Ollie Cracknell proved to be another inspiring signing. Anthony Watson radiates class too.
George Martin and Cameron Henderson, however, deserve huge credit for rising to a troubled position. The Tigers had three sturdy senior castles with Ollie Chessum, Harry Wells and Calum Green all battling various ailments. Martin and Henderson, the latter on the cusp of a line-up in Scotland, were outstanding. With Hanro Liebenberg assisting as the main forward, these youngsters — Martin, 21, and Henderson, 23 — have settled into inactivity on either side of the ball.
Cameron Henderson (left), Jasper Wiese and Hanro Liebenberg had outstanding seasons. Youngs described Borthwick's methods as «built in» and there is a familiar flow to the Tigers' approach. This season they have continued to land more shots than any other club (averaging 34.7 per game in the Premier League) and more meters (1068 per game) than anyone else. They carry a little more: 98.8 carries per game, up from 90.8 last season, and an average of 589 carries per game, up from 558. Returning 71 tries from 19 league matches is not to be neglected, and the impact sledgehammer seemed to be in good contact with Exeter.
Despite lacking a second row, the Tigers are in a strong position in terms of their squad's health, with depth in most positions. Nick Dolly is free and has been selected for the friendly against Northampton Saints on Monday night. Youngs also returned to help Jack van Purtvliet. Contrast that with the Saracens, for example, whose back row stocks suffered concurrent injuries to Theo McFarland, Andy Christie and Billy Vunipole, robbing them of their dynamism.
Planning helped the tigers. They end the regular season hosting the Harlequins, meaning six of their last eight Premier League matches will be at home. However, decisive victories at Gloucester and Brentford were decisive. They will probably need to summon the same spirit to Sale Sharks in the semi-finals. No one has ever won the Premier League after finishing third, but the Tigers can draw on recent experience. Wigglesworth is showing a certain poignancy.
«Everyone quickly wrote this group off when we lost three matches in a row, and few people talked about us while we are winning,» he said on Sunday. “We just got down to business and tried to intervene like the Leicester Tigers do.
Indeed, Youngs pointed out that this cocky response was based on the innate characteristics of his club. «We had some teething issues in the first couple of weeks [after Borthwick and Sinfield left],» the scrum half admitted. «You can give yourself the excuse, 'Oh, this season is over,' but it's not in the guys' genetics to be like that. I am very proud to have played my part in this.”
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