WRW: RETURN TO TWICKENHAM
BUT FIRST…
THE EAST MIDLANDS DERBY IS BACK
There have been some entertaining derbies in recent years. But very one-sided affairs.
Not many in Northampton think too fondly about the first two of this season, the pandemic ruined plenty and let’s be fair, Tigers have had their shockers in recent years too.
This East Midlands Derby was something very special, though.
Anyone who was there will remember the emotion and sheer terror in the stands. I’m not sure I can recall Welford Road being quite so tense as that. Was it the absence from a Premiership Final for nine long years? Was it the knowledge of being top throughout the regular season, with the prospect of being knocked out in the semis? By Saints, of all things.
Probably all of it combined.
You can argue about the ifs and buts in any contest, especially a knockout game. The execution and the efficiency of both Tigers and Saints’ game plan may not have hit the heights. But that might have been the best atmosphere I’ve experienced inside the old place…
And it was fun seeing the fans going completely potty and being spotted on BT …
(Yes, Jess Bunyard, I’m looking at you…)
WHO ADDS THEIR NAME TO THIS LIST?
It was always going to be Saracens standing in Leicester’s way.
And to those players who read this newsletter and who thrive in a siege mentality, listen up. I’ve not met one Leicester fan all season who is confident Tigers can beat Saracens in a Final.
The challenge is two-fold.
One, how do you raise yourself emotionally after such a high on Saturday while also significantly improving the execution? After all, for example, Ehren Painter is a handy tight-head and gave Leicester some awkward moments, but he’s no Vincent Koch. There are some young heads in this Leicester line-up who will not have experienced a major Final build-up and no, last year’s Challenge Cup Final doesn’t count.
Second, that derby must have been more physically demanding than either side let on. There was more strapping on show in that second half that across the road at the LRI. Freddie Steward notably felt his close encounter of the advertising kind. Montoya is clearly playing through a knock and Dan Kelly will surely not make the Final.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
The test for Leicester is how many points can they score against Saracens and while that does sound like the bleeding obvious, Tigers’ defence is as good as any.
Given how physical the Saracens-Harlequins semi was (arguably even more ferocious than Leicester’s), Tigers may have to find a way to out-muscle Saracens. Easier said than done, but neither Harlequins and Northampton could even attempt it.
Before their meeting in North London, Quins would have thought that if Saracens could score 20, they would try to score 30. Will Leicester have a similar mindset? Probably not.
There were certainly changes made when Saracens visited Leicester in October. An odd thing to do when it’s only Round 3. while Montoya, Wiese, Van Staden & Moroni were still away. Saracens were still to recall their Lions players. Genge, Wells & Steward were on the bench and it was the only game Nadolo missed from the initial block of games.
On a day where Owen Farrell’s boot was keeping Sarries in front, before the bench cleared and arguably made the difference for Tigers to sneak it, they just did enough.
Cards close to chest
When Leicester went to North London in March during the Six Nations, they had an availability issue with Henderson and Van Staden long-term injured and Ollie Chessum’s England call-up (though he was released for this game).
Leicester couldn’t break through the Saracens 22 when they had opportunities particularly in the second half. Quite simply, they didn’t have the ball-carriers to power through.
Throw in Wiese from the start, and then Wells, Liebenberg, Montoya and Genge who were all absent that day - and that sorts that out, even against quality opposition. Was it a coincidence that Leicester omitted those players?
Something tells me that Tigers have kept something up their sleeves for Saturday, but maintaining the emotions and raising the execution against this lot is one fearsome ask.
QUINS ARE WITH US, THEN
CHAMPIONS CUP FORMAT CONFIRMED
It’s the same. (Yawn. )
But Leicester will not face South African sides to blow the bank balance. Not yet anyway..
Allowing for the English and French seasons to be completed, we know Leicester and Saracens will be in Tier 1 when the draw is made reportedly on June 28th. The sides in bold and italics depend on this weekend’s Top 14 semi-finals. (Finalists in Tier 1, losing semi-finalists in Tier 2)
Two pools of 12 will be created from the four tiers decided by league performance,
Tier 1: Bulls, Stormers, Castres, Montpellier, Leicester, Saracens
Tier 2: Leinster, Ulster, Bordeaux-Begles, Toulouse, Harlequins, Northampton
Tier 3: Sharks, Munster, La Rochelle, Racing, Gloucester, Sale
Tier 4: Edinburgh, Ospreys, Clermont, Toulon, Exeter, London Irish
From there, it goes like this:
2 from Edinburgh, Swansea, Clermont or Toulon then…
See you at Twickenham then.. have fun.
Chris