Win tomorrow and things are definitely looking up!
IF people aren’t discussing the resurgence of Leicester Tigers under Steve Borthwick now, they certainly will be after this weekend if he can mastermind a win over his former club Bath.
Tigers, the fallen giants of English rugby, a club only spared the humiliation of relegation by Saracens’ multiple salary cap breaches last season, find themselves with a huge amount to play for in the final three months of the season.
Five victories from six games has thrust them into a second successive European Challenge Cup semi-final. Moreover, they’re handsomely clear of the lower reaches of the table and their focus is firmly on what’s above them.
Nobody from within the club would be brazen enough to talk beyond the next game, but anybody who has Leicester Tigers in their heart must have a bubbling sense of optimism as to what this group could go on to achieve this season.
After 15 rounds of action, Tigers were eight points off the top four. That gives them a shot.
Win at Bath and you’ll find increasing mentions of Borthwick’s side being bolters to reach the playoffs.
In truth, it wouldn’t really be a bolt should Tigers find themselves playing domestic knock-out rugby in June.
They’re arriving from a long runup, when even their defeats have been distinguished by encouraging performance levels.
An early red card against Exeter Chiefs, their last defeat, was followed by a sin-binning and a glut of early scoring to trail 28-0 in half-anhour had many fearing the worst, especially with memories of those capitulations in the concluding rounds of the 2019/20 season.
Yet back they roared to get within nine points and one crossfield kick to Freddie Steward flying inches above his fingertips away from really making it interesting.
Ultimately, they left Sandy Park with a point for scoring five tries, and their pride firmly intact.
Hanro Liebenberg, one of the stars of the campaign, cut a frustrated, forlorn figure post-match, despite his heroics.
He was haunted by the prospect of what might’ve been if fellow countryman Kobus van Wyk had kept his tackle low after just 13 minutes. Tigers emerged from the Six Nations period in a position where they were not desperate for their Test stars to return. Of course, they’re improved by having them back available, and it’s no surprise to see Borthwick name all four to face Bath, but others have risen to the challenge.
Luan de Bruin is a rock at loosehead prop while Zack Henry was backed consistently at fly-half before Johnny McPhillips got his shot in Europe and took it with both hands.
Young Jack van Poortvliet has snapped at the heels of veteran Richard Wigglesworth for the nine shirt in Ben Youngs’ absence, with Ben White also showing glimpses of what he can offer in the few chances he’s been afforded.
While George Martin was away with England earning his first cap, fellow Tigers youngster Cameron Henderson has been pulling up trees in the second row, featuring in the last four games before missing out against Bath.
Tigers have ridden the loss of Jordan Taufua to Lyon and injuries to Nemani Nadolo, Cyle Brink, Julian Montoya and Nephi Leatigaga, yet they’re still delivering results and performances.
Bath away is their biggest test since that Exeter Chiefs defeat. Hold their discipline and shoot down their old rivals, odds will begin to shrink significantly on Leicester Tigers muscling their way in on the fight for a place in the Premiership final on Saturday June 26.