‘Fight is growing’ in my Tigers side
BORTHWICK HAILS SPIRIT OF REVITALISED TEAM
LEICESTER Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick claims “the fight is growing” in his team, writes Bobby Bridge.
Down to 14 men at Kingsholm and defending a seven-point lead, Gloucester went in search of a try that would have given them a conversion attempt to level the scores.
But a herculean effort on the backfoot meant a rolling maul and subsequent drives for the line were repelled as Leicester held on to win 33-26 and keep their 100 per cent start to the Gallagher Premiership season intact.
It was another example of how far the side has come under Borthwick’s sole stewardship as they bid to kick on from last season’s sixthplace finish and challenge for the top four.
“Leicester Tigers were a team that went away,” said Borthwick, right.
“That was proven in the two years before I arrived. Twelve times they entered the last 20 minutes in winning positions and lost.
“It was a common trait. Now those traits take a long time to change.
“You’ve got to be unrelenting in making those changes. I think the fight is growing in the team.”
Despite always being ahead on the scoreboard on Friday night, Gloucester replied to each of Leicester’s four tries within five minutes of conceding, to keep the game in the balance.
“We shouldn’t have let ourselves get into that position, and I certainly addressed it with the team,” said Borthwick.
“How and why we let ourselves get into that position late in the game. How we didn’t close the game out and finish it off.
“So there’s plenty of learnings for us, but, as I’ve said many times, we’ve got a lot to learn.”
Tigers’ transition from being a team that spurned leads to one that can see them through to the final whistle has no secret formula.
“Ultimately, I am head coach but the players are the ones who are able to deliver it,” Borthwick said.
“The manner in which we prepare each day. I am not smart enough to know any other way, really, other than we prepare hard each day.
“It doesn’t matter if we are running, walking or just talking, there is a demand about the way in which we prepare.
“We’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been very open and candid with you when I say there is a gap between where we are at and where the top teams are at, and we want to close the gap.
“To do that, we’ve got to learn really fast and work hard every day.” Meanwhile, Ben Youngs has not been ruled out of Saturday’s home clash with Saracens despite withdrawing from England’s training camp.
The 109-times capped scrum-half was named in Eddie Jones’ first training squad of the 2021/22 campaign along with Leicester Tigers team-mates Ellis Genge, George Martin, Joe Heyes and Freddie Steward.
But Youngs, 32, was withdrawn after suffering a “minor thigh injury” in the win over Gloucester. Youngs featured in the second half of Friday night’s victory, arriving on to the field when Tigers were 18-12 ahead. Tigers are well-stocked at scrum-half with Jack van Poortvliet appearing in both Premiership games so far this season, while Richard Wigglesworth could play his first minutes of the campaign against former club Saracens on Saturday.