Magical Nakawara casts his spell over Leicester
FIJIAN superstar Leone Nakarawa, playing rugby but not as we know it, was the difference between Racing and Tigers in an entertaining if disjointed game that saw Leicester’s poor run in France continue.
The former Glasgow Warriors lock ran riot during much of the first half utilising his full range of basketball-style off-loads which defences know are coming but seem helpless to prevent.
Nakarawa scored one try, made two and was a constant threat taking the game to Leicester after a hesitant opening 15 minutes from the home side. It was a bravura performance and a glimpse at a level of handling and attacking that very few players on the world scene can aspire to.
It was Leicester’s bad luck to be on the receiving end although they knew what awaited them and had asked Manu Tuilagi’s brother Freddie to try to simulate the all-singing alldancing Nakarawa in training as Tigers attempted to come up with defensive strategies.
Fine in theory but very difficult in practice.
Leicester have won just once in their last 13 visits over 11 years and although they started well in Paris yesterday they ended up doing well to scramble a losing bonus point. By no means a disaster but Matt O’Connor will have hoped for more against a team that has been struggling in the Top 14 and underperformed badly in Europe last season.
They could scarcely have made a more encouraging start with a try after just two minutes from Luke Hamilton after Matt Smith had got them going forward with a good break.
George Ford converted and Tigers continued to dominate the opening exchanges as Racing struggled to reorganise after the departure of full-back Juan Imhoff with a leg injury.
It was Nakarawa who got the home side going when he finished off a concerted assault on the Tigers line to dive over in trademark style, first holding the ball up high in one hand and then, as he twisted and made his way to ground, transferring it to his other hand for the touchdown.
Ford regained the lead for Leicester with a short range penalty before Nakarawa inspired another try, this time when Racing attacked at pace form a lineout. It was the Fijian’s pace and off-load which added impetus to a move which eventually saw Bernard le Roux touchdown.
Nakarawa was at it again moments later when he featured prominently in yet another attack which this time resulted in Teddy Thomas walking the ball over in the corner.
It all looked a bit ominous but Tigers dug in and when they counterattacked a reckless tackle by Virimi Vakatawa on Nick Malouf rightly earned a yellow card and while the chunky centre was off the field Jonny May sped in for a fine try in the left corner, his seventh try in seven games for Leicester this season.
At 19-15 at half time we had the makings of a classic but the magic disappeared as abruptly as it had arrived and in the event the second half only garnered a penalty apiece.
Racing will be happy, Tigers will be frustrated but not distraught.