FALLEN STARS
Youngs admits the misfiring Leicester players deserve some blame for the sacking of boss O’Connor
BEN YOUNGS says Leicester’s star-studded team must take their share of responsibility for the slump that brought about regime change.
Matt O’Connor (left) carried the can when he was sacked on Monday and replaced as team boss by Geordan Murphy. And while England scrum-half Youngs has no doubt Murphy is the man to turn the club around, he admits the players need first to pull their fingers out. “There is definitely an element where you feel responsible for the lack of performances,” said Youngs ahead of today’s home clash with Newcastle. “Ours at Exeter last week was nowhere near where we want to be. We need to get on top of it, get back to where we were.
“There’s been a lot of time and money gone into this squad. On paper it’s a brilliant squad. We’re due a number of good performances and a good season.”
With a back line of England stars George Ford, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May, Kyle Eastmond and Youngs no wonder Tigers supporters, reared on 10 league titles and two European Cups, feel frustrated.
“The fans expect us to win, the board expects us to win and bad things happen when we don’t,” Murphy acknowledged after making only two enforced changes.
As a player Murphy was dubbed the George Best of his sport by Dean Richards, coincidentally Newcastle’s boss this afternoon, but the Irishman warns fans not to expect champagne rugby.
“I’d love for Tigers to go out and play expansive rugby and I’d love to say my philosophy is sling it wide and play wide-wide,” he said. “I don’t think that’s going to be the case.
“You have to use your strengths to try to break down the opposition. I want the boys to play smart, winning rugby. That’s the priority.”
Ex-Leicester boss John Wells believes his old club timed the change with Newcastle’s visit in mind to get “maximum” reaction. Falcons ended their play-off hopes in April and are packed with former Tigers players and coaches.
“They know it’s going to be a rough, tough game and need to squeeze that extra bit of toothpaste out of the tube to beat us,” said Newcastle’s defence coach.