COULDNT BE MORE OF A CINCH
Surely the best half-century seen in Northampton since Allan Lamb retired...
This was the reaction I got from a friend of mine on Saturday night when they learned of the result at Franklin’s Gardens. Disbelief barely does the man justice.
Unbridled rapture was the common reaction, bar of course the usual quarters. While Steve Borthwick plays a straighter bat than Geoffrey Boycott in front of the media, he would more than justified a glass of something strong to celebrate what will go down as one of the most famous wins in the history of the club.
If you’re to compare Saturday with any of the great games of Tigers yore (both European and Premiership finals), this would be up there in good company. I wasn’t in Paris but I wonder if this was a better team performance?
Do send me your thoughts on whether this was the greatest performance in the club’s recent history.
Two other things on my mind after the weekend.
Arguably the biggest positive of Leicester’s performance was how young players stepped up. Perhaps they didn’t get everything wright, but Ollie Chessum exemplifies what was good about Leicester . The stars had their moments, but for powerful, young tyros who bring a muscular enthusisasm to their carrying and lineout workespecially, Leicester are well stocked. When Liebenberg is out, to have Martin, Chessum and possibly Henderson to come in, is one decent bonus.
The one factor outside of Leicester’s control is Eddie Jones - and not based on how many Tigers are selected for the Six Nations.
Owen Slot’s brutal feature on Jones’s style of coaching is one of the more seminal pieces of journalism this season. (*paywall klaxon*)
Yet another fascination is its publication’s timing. The knives are out for Eddie who gives advice as freely as Borthwick offers up soundbites to the media.
It’s unlikely - but not at all impossible - that Jones does not make the trip to France 2023. A second consecutive Six Nations disappointment would leave the RFU between a rock and the most inhospitable place - though it would take a lot of cojones and cash to buy Jones out.
So even if Richard Cockerill will be a serious candidate, would England really pass up appointing the coach England have arguably missed the most? I doubt Borthwick could pass up the opportunity, few turn it down.
A new long-term contract for Borthwick , with specific release clauses for substantial compensation, would not be the worst investment this winter.
HELLO EVERYONE IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
REACTION
Damn you Ali Eykyn, that’s a great line.
WATCH OUT NEXT SUMMER
The way this man is playing, Montpellier will be far from the last club linked with Ford, as mentioned in previous WRWs editions considerably earlier than other outlets would have you believe.
It seems as if he can also play scrum-half now..
IT GETS BETTER - and worse
The news that Nic Dolly and George Martin are heading back to Leicesrer from England duty is no doubt a disappointment to them personally. It may feel a little strange to both of them this week getting used to a temporary stay in club ranks before heading back to Bagshot and England.
If there was a game you’d think that Dolly especially had a shot at winning that first cap in, it would be Tonga but at least they are coming back fit and well. You can’t tell me that Borthwick didn’t know this long before yesterday
If I were a Bristolian, to hear of Harry Randall being out till the New Year after a paddle-boarding accident, would send me into fits of rage. Freddie Steward appeared to have a little knee tweak, a couple of weeks ago so let’s see how that pans out.
To hear of Marcus Smith also picking up a knock, leaves me wondering about the improbably convenient timing and that Eddie Jones might just prefer to play Farrell at 10 on Saturday.
It would provoke quite a stir.
Top v bottom on Friday night could leave Tigers THIRTEEN points clear of everyone between Leicester and Bath. Perhaps more relevantly, they could be eighteen points clear of 5th spot with a third of the season gone.
At this time of the year, Leicester’s season could not be structured any more conveniently. Two weeks of Premiership Cup to give everybody who needs the game time, a bye week the weekend after England v South Africa so that limbs can be cared for properly before Harlequins visit Welford Road, followed by the Champions Cup trip to Bordeaux.
The Six Nations period will be lengthy with games rather then 2 this autumn - Sale (A), Worcester (H), Northampton (H), Bath (A), Gloucester (H), Saracens (A) and London Irish (H). Those fixtures have some edge to them - especially in the North West, but you would fancy Leicester against anyone right now.
Thank you too for your reading and your patience these last three weeks.. I hope to be back on track now having moved back to God’s own county.
See you on Friday night
Chris Egerton
Many, many highlights from that game (apart from my ticket being free😂) but I think my favourite is watching Kini bowl down the Saints players. 😍
We wax lyrical, justifiably, about George Ford but did anybody see Trinh-Duc come off the bench against Clermont. If they both play we could be in for a real treat in Bordeaux.