First bonus point win since January was a huge statement

IT’S no exaggeration to say that no one realistically saw that coming outside of the playing and coaching staff at Welford Road, and surely even they had doubts.

Leicester Tigers, after a 12-day enforced absence of team training due to a Covid-19 outbreak, came out strongly and dominated their West Country rivals pretty much throughout.

A first Premiership four try bonus point win since January 4 was a massive statement for Steve Borthwick.

From the kick off the Tigers tore into the visitors, Jasper Wiese taking the ball and making yards, a feat which he repeated again and again as an absolute monster of ball carrying. The rest of the pack weren’t far behind and only the first half line-out statistics spoilt a largely faultless display.

However, the real star turn was Richard Wigglesworth. His signing may have been questioned as a 37year-old veteran, but his man of the match performance was simply a revelation.

He was the glue that held things together and his on field leadership was exemplary as he steered his pack around the pitch and put his backs into dangerous positions.

Tigers’ first try came about from his slick pass to Harry Potter on the wing, and it was notable that he was the first support runner (remember 37 years old!) when Potter was finally caught by defenders.

Too many times in the recent past the Tigers have bought in someone to provide that kind of leadership and they haven’t produced it.

While it may hurt to say it, there was an element of Saracens in the way the team enthusiastically congratulated every good play, the way in which they created their own energy in an empty stadium and the way the Gloucester fightback was snuffed out.

With that happening on the pitch, the Welford Road crowd could again become the 16th man it once was.

It would be dangerous to read too much into this result, however.

Gloucester’s only ‘win’ (against Northampton) in their past five matches was awarded because they avoided the virus and the Saints did not, and their penalty count was gruesome, especially when compared to the Tigers’ disciplined effort.

On that form, the race to the bottom will be tighter than most thought.

However, the effect on Leicester morale of having such a good performance to build on can’t be discounted. Bring on London Irish!