Who’d have expected this demolition derby?
COLLECTIVE EFFORT AND QUALITY FROM ONE TO 15
WE all thought Leicester would be competitive at Franklin’s Gardens, but I strongly doubt anyone saw that coming.
Northampton, fourth in the table with a game in hand and coming off a demolition of Worcester the week before (and a rest week before that, so fresher than their East Midlands rivals) were simply demolished in a first half display of precision and power from the Leicester side.
While things were more difficult in the second half, largely due to two yellow cards, one deserved, one inexplicable given decisions the previous weeks in favour of the Tigers’ opposition, the half was still comfortably won to finish things off with a half century and Leicester’s biggest ever Premiership win at the Gardens.
Leicester’s collective effort was again such that picking out individuals is almost unfair, but Freddie Burns’ stint at full back oozed quality and his ability to take up the position of second playmaker was key, particularly when George Ford was pressed into service at scrum half.
But what a performance from the aforementioned Ford!
Controlling the game in the 10-minute period the Tigers were two men down, two box kits that any international nine would have envied, and a drop goal from near on half way to extinguish any Northampton hopes of recovery.
England must be truly blessed to be able to dispense with his services.
If that is a permanent decision by Eddie Jones any Tigers’ fan who knows rugby will be praying that Ford enjoys life at Tigers enough to resist the temptation of French riches at the end of the season.
In the forwards the usual suspects were to the fore, with Dan Cole continuing his personal reinvention, and while probably viewed as too old for the next World Cup, very close to being the best tight head prop in England.
The back row were every bit as good as expected and the lineout was again faultless.
However, special mention needs to be made of Francois van Wyk at loosehead, who was jettisoned by Saints last season and, to be brutally honest hasn’t been that impressive in his limited appearances for the Tigers so far.
Clearly, a combination of his hardwork and Leicester coaching has had an effect.
A try at one end and try-saving interventions at the other are a remarkable return for a prop largely recruited for his scrummaging.
Another very good day to be a Leicester fan.