Double from debutant Dolly earns a bonus point victory
DISBELIEF FROM FANS AS 2021-22 CAMPAIGN OPENS IN STUNNING FASHION
ALL four corners of Mattioli Woods Welford Road roared with appreciation and a sprinkling of disbelief as Leicester Tigers blew away Exeter Chiefs with a dominant opening round display.
Steve Borthwick’s side played with uncharacteristic freedom in attack but with ferocious defensive intent to start Ellis Genge’s era of captaincy with an emphatic bonus-point victory.
Without their British and Irish Lions, Exeter were simply no match for Leicester Tigers, who could point to the absence of their own quartet of stars still away performing in the Rugby Championship.
The early tone was set when Freddie Steward was taken out in the air for a third-minute penalty George Ford put through the posts. The same two players combined for the game’s opening try as the full-back strode through a giant gap in the defensive line.
Exeter’s response was swift as Tigers transgressed and, from a close-range line out, Don Armand muscled his way over.
It was then Nemani Nadolo’s turn to light up the home crowd as he burst through Joe Simmonds’ flimsy tackle to stampede upfield. Josh Hodge’s brave efforts to thwart the giant Fijian were in vain as Ben Youngs expertly looped for Harry Potter to walk in untouched.
Tigers’ attacking intent was matched by steel in defence as Exeter set up camp metres from the line. Hooker Jack Innard appeared to have found a gap with a tapped penalty, only for the effort to be chalked off after television replays.
A second moment of good fortune for the hosts followed before half-time as Steward’s probing chip ahead into the 22 bounced fortuitously back into his hands. He was hauled down metres from the line but on the rapid recycle, Scottish centre Matt Scott backed himself to muscle his way to Tigers’ third try.
Exeter dominated the 15 minutes after the restart as Tigers’ discipline fell away, resulting in referee Ian
Tempest awarding a penalty try, Harry Wells being singled for the subsequent yellow card.
Down to 14 men, Borthwick’s men rediscovered their first-half adventure to get deep into the 22, where Nic Dolly, on his Premiership debut, brought up the try-scoring bonus point from a rolling maul.
The 22-year-old hooker, signed from Championship club Coventry last season, repeated the trick seven minutes later and it was party time at Welford Road despite replacement Exeter scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne crossing for the encounter’s final points in secondhalf stoppage time.
DELIGHT IS MIXED WITH
Leicester Tigers rugby writers Bobby Bridge and Ethan Clamp take a closer look at the individual performances from the players in green, red and white:
15. FREDDIE STEWARD
9*
The talented full-back picked up where he left off last season with a superb opening-day display. He started with an assured high ball then went on to be the focal point of everything Tigers did well on an opening day to remember. Took his try well and then was instrumental in the Scott try after a kick and chase. Was a commanding presence in the air, taking seven high balls.
14. HARRY POTTER
Who would fill the 14 shirt was a big topic for debate, but how well did the Australian take his chance? His try was as simple as they come, but it was his defence that shone, with a couple of tackles near the Tigers line that stopped near-certain tries. The two stand-out moments being a tap tackle on Jack Nowell and a huge hit on Alec Hepburn after a good read in defence.
13. MATT SCOTT 8
The defensive leader of the backs took his job in hand with a hard early hit on Rus Tuima. The Scotland centre came out of the line well to stop many Exeter attacks going wide. Took his closerange try well, pushing past Jannes Kirsten. Made an especially good covering tackle on Josh Hodge.
12. DAN KELLY 7
Although he didn’t see too much with ball in hand, he made a good few hits and led the defence well. The England international slotted in well to the first receiver role to change the point of attack. Key impact was a strong hit on Henry Slade inside the Tigers 22.
11. NEMANI NADOLO
The game that all Tigers fans have been waiting for from the giant Fijian. Started with a lovely offload out of the back off an early lineout. The biggest roar of the game came when he ran over Joe Simmonds for a 40-metre run that led to Scott’s try. Wasn’t afraid to get his head stuck into some tackles close to the line, including a fantastic try-saving tackle on Slade when the game was in balance.
10. GEORGE FORD 8 8 9
A confident early penalty from 45 metres out settled the early nerves.
Drew the man and gave the pass well for the Steward try. A sign of how Tigers want to play was when he decided to run and pass when the 50-22 was on early in the first half. Made some lovely neat passes that put the backs into space and controlled the game well on his return to Premiership action. The only blotch on a fine performance was a few out-of-character missed conversions.
9. BEN YOUNGS
7
An early tap penalty on the 60 metres set the mark for the new Tigers approach. Was caught in the wrong place for the Armand try. But made amends with a lovely looped pass for the Potter score. Made way for van Poortvliet early into the second half.
1. ELLIS GENGE (c)
7
A solid game from the new Tigers captain. Achieved early dominance in the scrum, earning a couple of penalties at Harry Williams’ expense. Made a robust carry in the build up to the Steward try. Began to lose a little bit of the scrum ascendancy in the second half with a few penalties going against him. Made an excellent maul turnover when the Exeter pack looked destined to score.
2. NIC DOLLY
8
What a day for the Premiership debutant. Got his first two league tries off the back of the rolling maul, which took some finishing. Lineout throws were good bar one underthrow. 74 minutes in the bank for the hooker is some going in a physical battle upfront.
3. DAN COLE
7
Made a good early strip in the tackle and was solid in the scrums. His work rate in defence and especially the kick chase was something to really note from the veteran prop’s performance.
4. HARRY WELLS
7
Won an early penalty at breakdown but conceded with a high hit later in the half. Made many strong tackles in defence. Was yellowcarded in the second half for bringing down a maul, which led to a penalty try.
5. CALUM GREEN
An action-packed performance from an operator who often flies under the radar. Made many big tackles around the base. Took multiple kickoffs well under some serious traffic. Gave the ball early to Steward that led to the Scott try. Finished it off with a crucial tackle on Nowell when the defence was stretched – a certain try saver.
7.5
6. George Martin 8
Had a slow start to the game with a couple of carries that failed to make metres. But made it up with a huge carry down the centre of the field. Did just about enough to bring Jack Innard down that led to the disallowed try. Went on to take his tackle count into the teens. The England international was named as BT Sports’ man of the match.
7. TOMMY REFFELL 8
An early poor forward pass was the only blotch on another outstanding performance from the openside. Was the lead tackler for Tigers (19) while being a menace at the breakdown creating slow ball. His line speed throughout led the way for the rest of the defence.
8. HANRO LIEBENBERG
7.5
The lineout leader had another good day at the office, stealing one lineout and taking many of Tigers’ own throws. Another one of the Tigers pack with a tackle count well into the teens. Made an especially important hit on Hodge when he was nearly through to score.
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Tom CowanDickie (for Dolly, 74) N/A;
17. Francois van Wyk (for Genge, 65) 6; 18. Nephi Leatigaga (for Cole, 54) 6.5; 19. Eli Snyman (for Green, 63) 6; 20. Ollie Chessum (for Martin, 63) 6; 21. Jack van Poortvliet (for B Youngs, 51) 7;
22. Freddie Burns (for Ford, 70) 7;
23. Guy Porter (for Kelly, 70) 6
■■The stand-out of the replacements was Jack van Poortvliet, who as usual added his tempo to the game. Made an especially good snipe down the blindside when down to 14. Nephi Leatigaga resolved Tigers’ issues at the scrum.