Stimpson: He looks the real deal to me

LEICESTER have a trackrecord for producing England full-backs, but the most notable in the post-war era are Dusty Hare (25 caps, 1974-84) and Tim Stimpson (20 caps, 1996-2002), who were also British & Irish Lions.

Both players were prolific goal-kickers who could deliver under intense pressure. Hare kicked the three penalties that gave England their 9-8 win over Wales in the most controversial ‘grudge’ game of the 1980 Grand Slam campaign, while Stimpson, below, who was another Freddie Steward-style big unit at 6ft 3ins, was crucial to Leicester’s Heineken Cup double of 2001 and 2002.

In the 2001 final against Stade Français he converted Leon Lloyd’s last minute try from the right-hand touchline – the worst position for a right-footed kicker – to give Tigers their 34–30 winning margin in Paris. A year later, with Leicester trailing Llanelli 12-10 in the 2002 semi-final with only a few minutes remaining, Stimpson elected to go for goal from 60m in windy conditions. The ball hit one of the posts and the crossbar, before going over to give the Tigers a 13–12 lead which they held onto. Leicester went on to win the final against Munster 15-9, with Stimpson kicking a penalty and a conversion. Stimpson says he is delighted with the comparison made between himself and Steward. “I’ve only watched him play a couple of times, but from what I’ve seen, and all reports from people I ask, he is the real deal – so if people are comparing us, I see that as a real compliment for me!

“Tigers seem to have rediscovered a hunger and willingness to run with the ball – plus the law changes regarding kicking into opposition 22’s will require a smart back three able to play cat-andmouse with opposing fly-halves – so Freddie should be in his element reading the game and running back with power and speed.

“I look forward to taking my kids back to Welford Road soon and I’ll expect to feel a buzz of expectation ripple around the ground when Freddie gets a chance to go!”