My Tigers won’t lose our stripes
FOR the past 13 seasons, Leicester have made it through
bench tonight – a selection which to the Premiership play-offs.
underlines the backline talent available No one wants to be part of a to the Tigers. Tigers team that falls short. They have not been the consistent
After defeat in their last home game sum of their parts this season, a result against Northampton a fortnight ago, of their own shortcomings but also Leicester are on the outside looking because of a domestic landscape that is into the top four with two matches as challenging as it is punishing. remaining. For Tait, who is studying part-time at
They have to win at Welford Road Salford University for a Masters in tonight against Newcastle and at Sale sports directorship, the helicopter tomorrow week to extend the run. view of the Premiership is of an
After the summer cash splash that incredibly competitive league but brought England duo George Ford and one that can take players beyond Jonny May to Welford Road, this was breaking point. not how it was meant to be. But the “The league is just crazy this class of 2017-18 are in grave danger of year. It’s just so tight,” said Tait. being that side. “When I first started there
For Mathew Tait, who has been would have been a bigger involved for the past six discrepancy ❑
THE Welsh Rugby Union seasons, it is a pressure between the which weighs heavily, have brushed off doubts top four or but also a responsibility over their summer clash with five and that he believes will South Africa, insisting plans the rest, drive the side on against for the Washington fixture whereas now his former club this are well under way. everyone evening in what is the Wales are due to face can beat most significant game of the Springboks at the everyone on the Premiership season their day.
Robert F Kennedy Stadium in so far. “It is a
the US capital on June 2. “I still have a great very different
There have been concerns amount of affection for competition the Falcons,” said the over a lack of interest in the to what is former England centre. match but Mark Lambourne, was even
“It is the region where board member at RIM, the five years I was brought up and I company staging it, said: “The ago when you went to watch them as a ticket sales are over 12,000 could pretty much kid with my dad. to date. Preparations are say who would finish
“My family is still going ahead at full pace. ” where. based up there, my “Bigger players
A WRU spokesperson brother Alex is at the are spread across
added: “We have a number of club and it is great to the league rather see them doing well. local activities planned than confined to
“But ultimately I want during our week in the US.” just one or two Leicester to be in that ALEX BYWATER clubs and the top four and if it means academies seem Newcastle miss out, so be it. We seem to to be better at bringing players leave it later and later every year but through. when I came here one of the things that “As a product to sell to the was appealing was the level of punters, it is great that it is exciting expectation, and you embrace that. to the very end and that no game is a
“That is not to underestimate the given, but it is also as attritional as it challenge that is going to face us on ever has been. Friday. “You have 20 or 25 per cent of your
“The table doesn’t lie and Newcastle squad injured at any one time so the are above us at the moment. skill is to build squads that are capable
“It’s going to be a fair old ding-dong of winning as opposed to just teams. but we take confidence from the fact “It is so intense. I do feel for some of that we have been in these situations the England guys who have no escape before.” from it. It is non-stop for them.”
Manu Tuilagi’s latest return from Ford and May will be asked to go to injury, this time a five-week absence the well again tonight. with a chest problem, means that, like In a season of must-win games, this his brother, Tait will operate from the one really is non-negotiable.