‘It will take something special to beat Leinster’
YOUNGS RELISHING CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL CLASH
BEN Youngs believes “it is going to take something special” for Leicester Tigers to beat Leinster tomorrow evening and advance to the semi-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup, writes John Wiffen.
The Irish province will arrive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road with a squad packed full of internationals, many of whom have not featured since their round of 16 second leg rout of Connacht.
England’s most-capped men’s international Youngs has started both of Tigers’ subsequent games against Harlequins and Bristol Bears as they secured a home Gallagher Premiership semi-final.
But achieving the same in Europe’s top competition will be the biggest test of Steve Borthwick’s resurgent side so far.
The 32-year-old scrum-half addressed how his side will handle the pressure of taking on the four-time European champions.
“I recognise that it is a big game, firstly, and we all do,” Youngs said.
“Then understand that it is going to take something very special from us as a group of players, and then get excited about it.”
It is the first time Tigers have reached the quarter-finals of the top tier of European rugby since 2016, when they beat Stade Francais before being knocked out by Racing 92.
Since then, the club has been to the brink of relegation and dropped into the second-tier Challenge Cup, but Youngs is relishing the prospect of the club being back in the biggest of games.
“From my point of view, it’s been a long time since I’ve played in a quarter-final,” he said.
“So we’re a little bit of the new boys in this quarter-final of rugby.
“That’s why for us we really acknowledge what’s coming and the effort that it will take, but it allows us to be excited about this week. It’s going to have that Test match feel to it, that’s what it’s going to take. I think anything short of that build-up is not going to be enough.”
The rivals have met on four previous occasions, including the 2009 final when Leicester were edged out 19-16 at Murrayfield as the Irish province claimed the first of their four continental crowns.
Youngs, right, was just a 19-year-old for that 2009 final.
“I was travelling reserve so I did the warm-up,” he said.
“I was able to experience the atmosphere and stuff and then I was watching from the stands, but I do remember that game, I remember some bits of it, Alesana Tuilagi and Shane Horgan, Sexton’s drop-goal but it was pretty close, coming up short.
“Leinster are steeped in the history of Europe. Leo Cullen (Leinster coach) obviously played at Leicester so he knows what to expect, so he can feed it to their guys, but they’ve played international rugby, their squad has got vast experience.
“So from our side we have got to recognise what is coming, so for us we have got to recognise what it is going to take, it’s going to have to be a monumental effort.
“It’s great to have us back and being part of the team that’s got big games like this.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us, we get to see really where we’re at, certainly against the best team in Europe, if not the best club team in the world.
“We’ve come on loads this season, let’s see how far we really have come. Saturday is an opportunity to see that.”
Meanwhile, Tigers forward Ollie Chessum says it is an “exciting prospect” that the c l u b ’ s young players can only get better.
Chessum, 21, said his teammates are keen to learn to improve.
“Freddie Steward, George Martin, Dan Kelly, the list goes on,” he said. “You only have to look at the Six Nations this year. Nic Dolly was in there, Joe Heyes, myself, Freddie.
“We have so many young lads here that still have so much more to give. So much more to develop.
“It’s a scary thought for other people.”