‘Fierce competitor’ Moroni has become an instant Tigers hit
THE “fierce competitor” inside Matias Moroni has been key to the Argentina international hitting the ground running for new club Leicester Tigers, writes Bobby Bridge.
That is the view of head coach Steve Borthwick who was forced to wait nearly six months after the player’s signature was secured before giving him his debut in December.
While Borthwick has rotated his squad regularly with key players dipping in and out of the matchday 23s, Moroni has featured in ten of Tigers’ last 13 team sheets.
Having played his entire career in the southern hemisphere, most prominently for the Jaguares in five seasons of Super Rugby, the 47-times capped international has adjusted quickly to the demands of the Gallagher Premiership and the European Challenge Cup.
And he opened his Tigers try-scoring account when he finished off Guy Porter’s break against Connacht in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
“He’s adapted really well and that’s credit to him as a professional,” said Borthwick.
“He’s a fierce competitor, you see that with him on the field.
“He’s a guy who makes multiple tackles in a row. He’s a guy who gets to his feet and tries to get into the next challenge.
“I think the supporters have seen already how much playing for Leicester Tigers means to Matias.”
Since Moroni was given his debut towards the end of 2020, South African Jaco Taute has been limited to three starts at outside centre and hasn’t featured in the last seven teams selected since captaining Tigers to their heavy defeat against Harlequins.
Matt Scott, who has competed for the 12 shirt with Dan Kelly, was also deployed at outside centre for the defeat to Exeter Chiefs. In his eight Premiership matches played, Moroni has already made 43 tackles and his ability to break up opposition play with his defensive reads and line speed have become key assets. His fast start to life at Mattioli Woods Welford Road has led to some supporters likening the Argentine to another Tigers centre of note in Anthony Allen, who made 124 appearances for the club before being forced to retire due to a knee injury in 2015, aged just 28. Borthwick’s assessment of the transition Moroni has made from Argentinian rugby to becoming a mainstay in Leicester Tigers’ everchanging squads was a simple one “He’s a smart rugby player, a really good rugby player,” he said.
“I think if you have that, the best players adapt the quickest and he’s certainly doing that.”