We have set out our goal: to be one of the top teams
VICE-CAPTAIN BELIEVES SQUAD HAS MORE DEPTH THIS SEASON
HANRO Liebenberg has highlighted what he feels is the best thing Leicester Tigers have going for them heading into the new season.
Steve Borthwick’s side kick-off their Gallagher Premiership campaign on Saturday against Exeter Chiefs, as they bid to build on the vastly improved 2020/21 performance under the head coach’s guidance.
A busy summer of transfer activity saw Tigers bring in 10 new signings and promote four players from the academy, while 14 players departed and a further three senior players are confirmed to be out on season-long loans.
Despite more players exiting the club than arriving, vice-captain Liebenberg believes more bases are covered by the current group heading into his third season at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
“The depth in our squad; it was something we were lacking last season,” said the 25-year-old.
“I think now there’s so much good competition within the boys, it’s hard to even pick a 23. That will definitely benefit us going down towards the end of the season.
“We had such a good pre-season. We had some tough pre-season games.
“I am very excited. We have got some quality players and hopefully we can do the job with these players and the management we have.”
Following successive second-from-bottom finishes in the Gallagher Premiership, Tigers finished sixth last season and have been tipped by many to push for a topfour finish and reach the competition’s knock-out stages for the first time since 2017.
Liebenberg, who has made 36 appearances for the club after making his debut in September 2019, revealed what the group’s goal is for the season ahead.
“We had a meeting and we set aside the top teams and we, as a team we felt there is a bit of a gap between a few teams and the top teams and we want to get to be one of the top teams,” he said.
“That’s a goal we set out. We want to be recognised as one of the top teams, at the end of the season. “The only thing we can do is work hard and hope for the results.
“At the end of the day, if you chase results, you’re going to miss the small things. “We’re focusing on game by game, week by week, and if we do small things right and take each week as it comes, the results will take care of themselves.”
We have got some quality players and hopefully we can do the job
Hanro Liebenberg