Tigers gave themselves a mountain to climb – and did it
SHORN of some Covid casualties, Leicester put out the best side available against Bath at Welford Road.
However, even the players who might be considered to be squad rather than automatic first choices did not, on paper, appreciably weaken the Tigers side and some selections, such as the return from injury of the young George Martin – hugely impressive last season – and Jack van Poortfliet’s place on the bench, a reward for a fine performance against Bayonne, were exciting for the fans.
Meanwhile, the Bath team appeared to be very definitely their first choice 15, the perusal of which really raises the question why they are perennially mid-table rather than pushing for the higher reaches of the division.
The way Leicester (and, to be fair, Bath) started the game it looked like being yet another long afternoon.
Comedic defending by the Tigers left them with a mountain to climb after only 20 minutes, with Bath scoring two tries.
One was from a Bath steal from a line-out ruck when the Tigers pack thought they were on the attack rather than defending, and then a complete failure to put guards in place left Martin with an impossible task to defend Spencer.
To the Tigers’ immense credit, they stuck to their game.
The first half was a continuation of kicking the ball away at every opportunity, but the extra skills of
George Ford meant that those kicks were a challenge for the Bath defence rather than simply surrendering possession.
In the second half, while kicking was still an option, there was more heads-up rugby from the Tigers and eventually the team ran out winners.
Albeit it would have been so much more comfortable without that first 20 minutes.
Positives for Tigers were everywhere once the team hit their stride.
Foremost is the remarkable form of Freddie Steward. While praise for the young full-back is becoming something of a broken record, he is such a special talent that the team can confidently build around him.
He added a wonderful running line for his try to his already exemplary defence, particularly under the high ball.
Ellis Genge was back at his bullocking best, proving almost impossible to stop once on the move and solid in the scrum.
Jasper Wiese is a monster on the front foot, although his discipline can still let him down. It is just so good to start the new year on a positive note!