Tigers produced their most impressive passage of play since arrival of Borthwick
Leicester Tigers kicked off 2021 in style with a 36-31 victory over Bath Rugby at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Mercury reporter Bobby Bridge delivers his big-match verdict...
TWO days before Leicester Tigers overcame Bath in a thrilling Welford Road encounter, head coach Steve Borthwick was nearing the end of an unusual media session.
Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership round five match remained firmly in the balance following the Covid-19 outbreak within the Tigers camp that had already dashed their Boxing Day hopes of ending Newcastle Falcons’ fine start to the season.
Borthwick, right, was among the Tigers staff and players who were forced to self-isolate, denying him hands-on access to his squad in the two days they were afforded together as their Oval Park training ground was reopened.
But the former England coach and captain kept a firm grip on proceedings, including answering the questions fired his way by a sizeable pack of journalists that normally only assemble in such numbers for cup finals and Test matches.
His final answer of the 20-minute session was the most telling and prophetic, given what would transpire against Bath. “We had to get the team fit,” he said, when asked by BT Sports commentator Nick Mullins how he would like the team to develop.
“If you look at the number of times in the two years prior to me joining this team, there has been 12 times the team has been winning entering the last 20 minutes of a game, and lost the game.”
Two days later, Tigers fought back from 14 points down to lead 23-20 entering the last quarter of an engaging battle with old rivals Bath.
Minutes later, Rhys Priestland confidently struck over his sixth successful kick of the encounter to tie the scores. Tigers fans watching at home and, maybe, even their absent leader must have had that familiar sinking feeling.
But what followed was the most impressive passage of play in Borthwick’s tenure at the club.
It was built on the foundations of fitness, gameplan execution and some incredibly bold calls to introduce youngsters Jack van Portfliet and Cameron Henderson. The duo, aged 19 and 20 respectively, had less than 10 Premiership appearances between them, but were trusted to replace experienced campaigners Ben Youngs and Calum Green.
At 63:24, the magnificent Freddie Steward returned a kick from his 10-metre line into the Bath half. Nine rucks and 11 passes later, Henderson expertly finished from close range to complete a minute-long passage of play that involved nine Tigers players getting their hands on the ball while others, most notably another replacement in Charlie Clare, threw their weight into rucks and latches.
That’s nine opportunities for Bath to compete for the ball with two replacement back rows only just introduced to the pitch in Josh Bayliss and Miles Reid.
Nine times Tigers had to maintain their intensity, physicality and discipline.
Bath barely saw the ball in an attacking sense for the six minutes that followed as Tigers built upon their lead.
Another spiralling kick from Ford perplexed Anthony Watson and Taulupe Faletau’s penalty concession gave Ford a routine shot at goal to open up a 10-point lead. Tigers could have endured a nervous final three minutes when that advantage was cut in half by Cameron Redpath’s try.
Instead of consolidating what they had and trying to see out the match – and with it inviting pressure – they went for the jugular. Twice they put boot to ball through Ford and van Portfliet, to press into the 22 before Bath’s scrambled defence delivered a timely turnover.
Harry Wells’ lineout steal ended any hopes of late drama as Ford punted into touch to end a game which saw Tigers deliver on Borthwick’s words.
A feat made all the more impressive given the chaotic pre-match preparations that denied them some players, coaches and, most importantly, spending time together.
Imagine what they can go on to achieve once this comparatively newly-assembled squad does manage to string weeks of training sessions together in the rest of 2021.
Leicester Tigers’ clash with Northampton on Saturday has been hit by a “limited number” of positive Covid-19 tests within the Saints camp.
The East Midlands derby is still set to go ahead while the Saints work through the relevant protocols, which includes contact tracing.
Saints have not played since their Boxing Day win against Worcester Warriors.