Tigers back in business
Victory lifts gloom for Murphy
Leicester 35 Harlequins 24
THE merry little crisis is over for now. Leicester ended their run of eight defeats — their worst since 1975 — and Welford Road let out a roar of relief that could be heard in all four corners of the East Midlands.
It was a victory that will provide festive respite for Geordan Murphy, although it will only paper over the cracks that have been exposed in recent weeks.
This was a game Leicester could not afford to lose.
Relegation conversations would have followed a defeat. Instead, t hey showed their ‘old school’ colours to move up to sixth with a bonus-point win over Harlequins.
Nothing has been going Leicester’s way in recent months. Even training was cancelled in the week as half of the squad were struck down by the flu.
‘ Don’t worry. I’ve got my boots,’ quipped Murphy in the press room before kick-off. ‘Manu Tuilagi was in bed yesterday… that’s why he’s looking a bit skinny.’
Victory in front of a 21,597 crowd was just what the doctor ordered. The supporters have stuck by their team, yet there is growing discontent about the direction in which their club is moving.
Most are green with envy at the chairmanship of Nigel Wray at Saracens, who do not boast the global brand of the Leicester Tigers but deliver vision and victories.
Last week prop Ellis Genge claimed there is no loyalty at Welford Road. It will be little surprise if he leaves when his contract ends in 2020 but he showed his value as the Tigers milked scrum penalties against Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler.
‘ Are you f * * * * * s eri ous,’ shouted Sinckler as he was repeatedly penalised by Luke Pearce and the Tigers went 10-0 up inside 15 minutes.
Running a perfect angle off George Ford, Jonah Holmes scored the opening try and he added a second inside half an hour, following a break by Tatafu Polota-Nau.
‘Our scrum failed in the first 20 minutes,’ admitted Quins coach Paul Gustard.
‘There was a bit of skulduggery going on — particularly on Dan Cole’s side. He’s a wise old player, isn’t he, but we’ve got Joe Marler. I expect Joe and Kyle to solve problems.
‘We didn’t always get the rub of the green there and we didn’t always get the rub of the green at the breakdown, either. They were very old school Leicester; lying on the wrong side and slowing t he ball down. We wanted to play a high tempo game and they frustrated us.’
Quins failed to score a try in the first half — relying on penalties from James Lang — and they lost the impressive Paul Lasike to a head injury before the break.
Tuilagi struck in the right corner after 57 minutes, with the flu-ridden centre mobbed by supporters as he crashed into the terrace.
The Crumbie Stand hasn’t celebrated so hard for a while now. Ca dan M ur ley eventually scored for Harlequins but the Tigers were out of sight. May added the bonus-point try before Genge left the field to a standing ovation — with Ben Youngs behind him.
Hooker Jake Kerr showed promise for the future from the bench — before Alex Dombrandt had the final say when he scored with one second remaining.
Tear up the obituaries – the Tigers live to fight another day and that is something to celebrate.