Tigers’ pack must find more teeth
WHERE Leicester have come up short in the last couple of years is a lack of abrasiveness among the tight five so it’s real shame, for not only the player himself but for the Tigers, too, that Ellis Genge won’t be back fit until the New Year after knee surgery.
In Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler there’s a couple of quality players ahead of him when it comes to England, but his loss is one Leicester could do without. They’ve reportedly brought in Campese Ma’afu as cover and with his Northampton background, that’s an interesting call.
For me, Leicester made a mistake letting Ed Slater go. He is a real hard-nosed individual that suited the Leicester environment and brought with him a physical game in the Leicester sort of mould.
Leicester used to have a very dominant forward pack with some okay backs, but that has flipped on its head; they have got a sparkling backline, as good as any in the Premiership when everyone is fit, but I don’t think they have got the forward pack to match others.
With the World Cup just over a year away, you could argue that it is better for Genge to have had this injury now rather than later, but it is still going to take a big chunk out of his season, with opportunities to play for England few and far between.
Fingers crossed he can bounce back strongly and do better than I’m currently doing in my rehab from knee surgery. Fortunately, he will be well looked after by Leicester because they have an amazing medical team there, and hopefully we’ll see a fully pumped up Ellis Genge when he does eventually return.
I certainly wouldn’t want to be the first bloke he runs into!