Pundits tip Tigers to be in top four mix
FORMER WELFORD ROAD PAIR EXPECTING MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
FORMER Leicester Tigers duo turned podcasting stars Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton are in agreement with their prediction for Steve Borthwick’s team this season, writes Bobby Bridge.
Fly-half Goode made 200 Tigers appearances, scoring 1,799 points during his decade at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, while second-row Hamilton spent five years with Tigers, playing 64 times.
The pair of Coventry-raised exrugby pros now co-host The Rugby Pod, which returned this week for the sixth season.
In the 68-minute episode, the pair listed their top fours for the Gallagher Premiershop 2021/22 campaign and both spoke favourably about Steve Borthwick’s side.
“There are three big clubs, if we’re being honest, who will be in the top four, and there’s a load of others who will be scrapping for that fourth place,” said Goode, capped 17 times by England.
“The big three for me are Exeter, Bristol and Saracens, when they get all their superstars back.
“There’s a lot of other teams who be pushing for that fourth place – Wasps, Leicester.
“Leicester, I think, will be hugely improved this year again.
“Wasps, Leicester, Sale – we saw an improvement in them last year.
“Quins are a champion team that no-one gave a chance to – 100 per cent (they have a chance) if they can replicate that, but they are going to be there to be shot at.”
Goode listed, in no particular order, Exeter, Bristol and Saracens in his top four, before adding: “It’s really close between Sale and Leicester Tigers. I am going to go with Leicester.”
Hamilton, capped 63 times by Scotland, predicted a top four of Sale, Leicester, Harlequins and Saracens, which, like Goode, omitted reigning champions Harlequins, as well as two of the semi-finalists from last season; Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears.
He said: “Leicester are now on the upward curve. Gengey, the baby rhino, is obviously captain, Freddie Burns is now there. Plus Jasper Wiese and the South African contingent.”
Tigers last finished in the play-off places back in the 2017-18 season when they ended up in fifth.
Two successive second-from-bottom finishes followed before Borthwick steered them to sixth in the 2020/21 campaign and into the European Challenge Cup final, where they lost out to Montpellier by a single point.