It’s not just that it’s a ground where Leicester haven’t won since September 2014, but winning at Sandy Park on Sunday might just matter a lot.
Now that the Six Nations is done and dusted, the meat of the club season can be consumed with gusto (subject to mandatory rest periods).
This may now be the time where club fans across the UK and France properly calculate where they will be in May and June for the first time. Perhaps coaches come to a reckoning on their squad management too.
After all, this is a mad, convoluted last three months ahead especially for the Premiership leaders. Two games in three days then a weekend off, before possibly competing on all three fronts.
It’s also why these next two Premiership games against Exeter and then Harlequins on April 23rd matter so much. Win both and that’s your home semi-final booked.
And considering April ahead, that would leave Leicester free to fight on two fronts.
April could see Tigers play as many as five games: Clermont Auvergne back to back, followed by Quins away in Premiership, then a possible Premiership Cup Semi Final with a home Premiership game against Bristol to finish.
Two wins against Exeter and Quins books Tigers a home Premiership semi-final.
Bear in mind too, that after Bristol, is a potential blockbuster of a Champions Cup Quarter-Final against Leinster.
A rest weekend for some of Leicester’s international stars when Pat Lam comes back to Welford Road, may be very useful.
WINNING MAY CAUSE ONE MINOR (BUT GOOD) ISSUE
The one fly in the ointment might be the Premiership Cup.
Next Tuesday’s final pool game against London Irish could yet see Leicester progress into the last four, whatever Newcastle do 24 hours later at Northampton.
Tigers have a decent shot at qualification if they pick up maximum points against the Exiles, especially if Bristol beat Gloucester in Wednesday’s televised game.
The only slight problem is that the Premiership Cup semi-finals are due to be played 10/11 days before any Champions Cup quarter-final.
You could see two different XVs in any Cup semi-final and against Bristol, with the bench all drawn from around 30-32 players, leaving the bulk of the starting XV for Leinster rested.
I’ve had a go with the stronger side for the Prem Cup SF, only because it’s a few more days before any quarter-final. But guest players aren’t allowed in the Premiership and that would leave wing are where Tigers most stretched.
Suggested XVs (15-9, 1-8):
Prem Cup SF: Hegarty, Satala, Porter, Scott, Jacques, Burns, Van Poortvliet, Whitcombe, Dolly, Leatigaga, Hall, Bridge, O Chessum, Poullet, Jansen
Bristol: Murimurivalu, Van Wyk, Cusick, Socino, Saumaki, Lancaster, Wigglesworth, Richardson, Clare, Hurd, L Chessum, Green, Martin, Robinson, Ilione
Replacements for above games: Vanes, Richardson, Hoyt, Manz, Abongbon, Edwards, Meredith, Woodward
Euro QF: Steward, Potter, Moroni, Kelly, Nadolo, Ford, Youngs, Genge, Montoya, Heyes, Wells, Snyman, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese. Replacements: Dolly, Whitcombe, Leatigaga, Green, Chessum, Van Poortvliet, Burns, Porter
SALARY CAP LATEST
I’ve received a number of comments after last week’s edition, some of them positive but not all of them. Be assured I read every one and I will keep doing so. However, if the club’s official position is to say nothing beyond the mere 68 words of comment issued last week, when will they say something?
Not one of the 68 words explained what happened, what changes to procedures have been made, any reassurances offered that it will not happen again and certainly not that individuals will take responsibility for this.
I’ve caught a bug the last few days after coming back from Newcastle, so I’ll respond to this in time. I hope in the next couple of weeks, when there’s more space, time and less cold circulating.
PROOF THAT CLUB AND COUNTRY CAN WORK TOGETHER IN RUGBY
A joint-venture commercial rights company between the governing body and its leading clubs? Surely not….
Ah, yes.
In rugby league.
AND DOESNT THIS RING A BELL?
Hope to be back with you soon, Lemsip allowing…
Chris