Tiger Reffell raring to rip into Robshaw
RISING star Tommy Reffell goes into battle against Premiership legend Chris Robshaw today looking to enhance his burgeoning reputation.
Welsh back rower Reffell, 21, has been one of the few bright sparks of an otherwise gloomy campaign for the Tigers, who are already condemned to a second successive 11th place finish and but for Saracens would have been relegated.
Aided by tighter interpretations around the breakdown, Reffell has seen game time he could only dream of at the start of a disrupted season and is relishing the chance to take on Robshaw on his 300th and final game for Harlequins.
“Chris has been a hell of a player for Harlequins and England rugby and he’s going to be really up for this match,” Reffell told The Rugby Paper.
“The other players will want to send him off with a nice performance, but we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves. We’re at the start of our own journey as a team and we can’t be concentrating too much on the rest.”
Leicester’s journey so far under new head coach Steve Borthwick has been less than impressive, with last Wednesday’s 40-3 loss at Bristol the latest in a run of crushing failures that has seen once proud Tigers ship 75 tries in 21 league games.
To highlight vast difference between the fallen giants and the top teams, Leicester’s points difference is minus 229 while Exeter’s is plus 228.
“We’re trying to improve our defence,” says Reffell. “In back-to-back games we don’t get much time to analyse other teams, so it’s about learning fast.”
With a Premiership tackle completion rate of 97 per cent, Reffell cannot be faulted and with 12 Premiership appearances before today, plus another eight in the cups, the Bridgend-born groundhog has certainly raised some eyebrows across the Severn.
He explained: “To be honest, I was just looking forward to playing in the Premiership Cup and showing what I could do around the training ground, but I feel like I’ve made some good, steady progress and I just want to keep pushing hard now.
“It’s been a massive learning curve for me, especially playing back-to-back games where you’ve got to learn faster than you would normally, but it’s my first season of Premiership rugby and I’ve really enjoyed it, especially the physicality.
“I’ve definitely grown as an individual, but I also want to deliver performances that I can be proud of and the supporters can be proud of too. This is another game we want to do well in and then I can reflect on the season and my learnings.”
Reffell will certainly be tested by Robshaw and company, but he added: “There’s a lot of big men in the Premiership so that hasn’t gone away, but it’s nice that the breakdown has come back a bit into the game, especially for a man in my position.
“I’m just working hard on my speed into the breakdown and the accuracy of my work there. The new laws came in to look after the jackaller so if you can get on the ball with speed and accuracy, you’re more likely to win a penalty for the team.”
Borthwick has kept only Freddie Steward and Luke Wallace in his line-up for the match, making 15 changes to his 23 man squad. Reffell and Hanro Liebenberg come into the back row, while wing Kobus van Wyk will make his debut.
Among ten changes to the Harlequins team that ran out against Wasps on Monday, loosehead prop Jordan Els earns his first start for the club having made his debut from the bench against Wasps.
George Head starts at hooker with Elia Elia banned for three matches after his red card for a dangerous tip tackle on Wasps' Dan Robson.
Centre Joe Marchant shifts to the wing as James Lang takes up the 13 jersey alongside Andre Esterhuizen in the midfield.
Danny Care and Brett Herron form a changed halfback partnership, with last weekend’s halfbacks Scott Steele and Marcus Smith sidelined through injury.
Head of rugby Paul Gustard said: “We are looking forward to the final game of the season as we look to finish in sixth position with a positive performance and a result for a club legend in Robbo; who makes his final and 300th appearance for Harlequins.
“He has been one of the standout players in the league for over a decade and is universally respected and loved by his peers and opposition.”