O’Connor: Lions have to pick Youngs

RETURNING Leicester head coach Matt O’Connor said there is no way the Lions selectors can afford to leave Ben Youngs behind after the scrum-half welcomed him back to Welford Road with a sparkling display.

“How could the Lions not pick him?” he asked and added: “He’s very good – as good as there is in the world.”

He was also enthusiastic about prop Ellis Genge. “He’s only a young man, his discipline is growing, and he’s got a huge future.”

O’Connor added: “It was pleasing, but I’m convinced there’s 35 to 40 per cent growth in us.”

Falcons rugby director Dean Richards said Newcastle were on the wrong end off the officiating.

“There were two knock-ons which were deliberate and we didn’t get a penalty. As soon as we saw Tempo (Ian Tempest) was refereeing we knew it was going to be a difficult game.

“We looked at the refereeing quartet and knew they would be influenced very heavily by the Leicester crowd.”