Genge wins praise for his superb reaction

ELLIS Genge has been praised by head coach Steve Borthwick for staying calm and producing one of his best games for Leicester Tigers, writes Bobby Bridge.

The loosehead prop was involved in a confrontation with Newcastle Falcons tighthead prop Jon Welsh before last Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership round 15 encounter.

Borthwick intervened to prevent the advancing Welsh from clashing with Genge, who for a second week running, was the subject of unwelcome headlines following an altercation with a grounded Johnny Sexton during England’s Six Nations defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

Genge played 69 minutes of Tigers’ 26-12 win while Welsh’s afternoon lasted just 12 minutes after he suffered a shoulder dislocation following a ruck clear-out by Jasper Wiese.

“Our players were stood at the bottom of the steps to go back up to the changing room,” said Borthwick.

“It’s one of those things, Ellis was there, somebody approached him.

“If you look at it, Ellis hasn’t had to say a lot.

“What Ellis did was go out and play phenomenally well, coming straight back after the Six Nations.

“He’s gone out and played one of the best games I’ve seen him play for Leicester Tigers.

“He scrummed well, made 16 tackles, a loosehead prop making 16 tackles, carried well.

“It’s one of the best games I have seen him play.

“A lof of the talk was about what happened before and, ultimately, what I saw was a couple of players involved and the player in a Leicester shirt hasn’t had to say anything, hasn’t had to do anything, just went out and played hard and showed how much it means to him to play at Leicester Tigers.

“Ellis just stood his ground and got on with playing the best game he possibly could for the team.”