Watson waits in the wings as Tigers maul sorry Falcons
ThE sight of Anthony Watson sprinting up and down the touchline before kick-off would have warmed the cockles of Leicester and England fans on what was a filthy afternoon. Watson hasn’t played since missing the World Cup due to a calf problem but was part of the Tigers’ pre-match preparations for this hammering of bottom club Newcastle.
It is a huge boost for both his club and country as at 29, Watson remains a player with lots left to give. The winger watched on as Leicester sealed a five-point success in awful conditions. Wales flanker Tommy Reffell scored a hat-trick as Leicester wrapped up a bonus point before half-time.
‘Anthony should be available for selection next week,’ said Leicester head coach Dan McKellar, whose team have now recorded three straight league wins ahead of the switch to European competition.
‘he’s a great player and a British Lion. This period has been really good for him and allowed him to get his body in the best shape it’s been.’
Watson’s return to Leicester — he was briefly employed on an RFU central contract — has placed the Tigers future of Mike Brown into doubt. Brown, the veteran England full back, is still going strong at 38 but his contract expires at the end of this month. ‘he’s a quality player who we want to keep around,’ said McKellar of Brown, confirming Leicester will be able to retain both him and Watson in their squad and remain under the salary cap limit. McKellar added: ‘What I loved about that performance was it had Leicester Tigers written all over it. ‘We’ve been boosted by players coming back from the World Cup and we have still got a few more to come.’
One of those is England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet who is now back training. Like Watson, Van Poortvliet also missed the World Cup due to injury after needing ankle surgery. This was Newcastle’s eighth
Premiership defeat from as many matches. It is cruel to say but they do not really look like winning a game and don’t have a squad to compete at this level. The Falcons actually started well in heavy rain, but only had a Brett Connon penalty to show for their efforts. After that, Leicester took full control through their forwards.
A Reffell brace and Matt Scott and Jasper Wiese tries plus the boot of handre Pollard made it 26-3 at the break. had he been fit to play, Watson would surely have been left to watch on. Conditions dictated this was a game for the forwards. Reffell completed his treble when the game resumed. The only concern for Leicester was an underwhelming crowd.
The bleak December weather undoubtedly played its part in a poor attendance, one which the Tigers said was 18,000. Leicester are a club used to selling out their home games but it didn’t happen here. Newcastle weren’t helped by losing Pedro Rubiolo to a yellow card for a high tackle on man of the match Wiese. By that stage Leicester had made mass changes. Ollie hassell-Collins got their sixth and Brown wrapped up the scoring, showing McKellar why he should indeed be kept on. ‘Leicester did the basics unbelievably well,’ said Newcastle head coach Alex Codling.
‘I’m proud of the players. It might sound strange to say that after losing by that margin but they always give me everything.’ LEICESTER: Tries – Reffell (3), Scott, Wiese, Hassell-Collins, Brown.
Cons – Pollard (4), Shillcock (2). NEWCASTLE: Pen – Connon
Star man: Jasper Wiese (Leicester). Referee: Sara Cox (RFU).
Attendance: 18,000.