Mccall delighted by Malins
X-rated Tigers boss Murphy loses his cool
Leicester 22 Exeter 31
Gary Fitzgerald
GEORDAN MURPHY was forced to apologise after turning the Christmas air blue at Welford Road.
The Leicester boss let his frustrations and disappointment at another damaging defeat flow and appeared to get into ‘verbals’ with a supporter.
Any festive goodwill flow out the window as Murphy and the spectator exchanged words and fingers were jabbed.
But Murphy attempted to pour cold water over the incident, which came after his side saw their 22-14 lead end up in another crushing defeat.
The Irishman insisted: “I was frustrated at some of the decisions being made on the field and I said something I shouldn’t have done.
Recovery
“There was a profanity and when I turned round I realised that there were kids there and I apologised. There was nothing more in it... and the guy was quite happy about it.”
Leicester were overwhelmed by an outstanding Exeter recovery job with the Devon club rising to the top of the table with a bonus-point win.
Exeter defied the return of
SARACENS coach Mark Mccall likened Max Malins to New Zealand full-back Beauden Barrett after the 47-13 victory over Bristol.
The champions looked like they would be in for a real fight against the Bears until Malins’s try on the stroke of half-time allowed them to romp home. He
Tigers’ England posse and it was the perfect way to approach what will be a tasty and tense battle with Saracens next Sunday.
Boss Rob Baxter said: “We will worry about Sarries on Monday.
“Right now the players can enjoy what they have achieved here, have a smile and a beer or two on the way back and then start thinking and preparing for next weekend.
“It’s a huge game, they always are against Sarries, and it feels good to go into that game on the back of a fine win.
“We looked a million dollars in the second half and you have to give credit to the boys who showed real maturity because added a second after the break and the 22-year-old, who can also play at flyhalf, was then compared to the similarly versatile All Black by Mccall.
He said: “Max Malins at full-back just looked like a great player.
“He reminds me a bit of a young Beauden Barrett who wanted to be a flyhalf but played 15 in his we made a chunk of changes after the European games and they have beaten a strong Leicester team with all their England lads backs.”
Tigers had England sextet Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Ellis Genge and Dan Cole on display for the first time since returning from the World Cup.
For 40 minutes they made a huge difference. But then Exeter showed their finishing power.
Tries: May 2, Taufua. Pen: Ford. Cons: Ford 2
Tries: Kirsten, Armand 2, J Hill. Pen: Steenson. Cons: Steenson 4 early years for the Hurricanes and All Blacks.”
The five points helped Saracens cut the gap on Leicester at the foot of the table following their 35-point deduction, but Mccall insisted their position is not a focus. He said: “We’re not counting points – well, I am certainly not looking at the table.”
The Bears had started
Power
Saracens 47 Bristol 13
strongly with an early Luke Morahan try, but from the moment Malins ran in Sarries’s second for a 14-13 half-time lead, the home side cruised.
Director of rugby Pat
Lam was in no doubt as to where the game was lost.
He said: “The 10 minutes after half-time were the worst 10 minutes we have played all year.”