Maybe the odds can be defied once more

FOLLOWING what had been an eventful weekend game against Harlequins, preparation hasn’t been ideal for the away semi-final to Sale.

While in the final analysis Leicester did well to be so close to Harlequins, a home defeat is still a home defeat.

It has to be acknowledged Tigers managed to get on the wrong side of referee Ian Tempest from the outset.

With a penalty try and a yellow card to start, then the failure to punish Harlequins wing Lynagh for taking out Mike Brown in the air, then the, since-acknowledged incorrect red card for Chris Ashton, and another head high hit on Dan Cole that went unnoticed, it’s fair to say the big decisions went against the home team.

That has had a knock-on effect and the much-delayed hearing for Chris Ashton almost certainly prevented him from taking part in the Premiership semi-final.

Make no mistake, Sale are strong favourites, partly for the reasons outlined above, but also because they have been the better team all season.

Add in the fact Leicester have been poor against the Salford outfit this season – losing home and away – but also for a long time before that, winning only once in the last nine league matches, and that at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

In truth there has to be a feeling this powerful Sale Sharks team has, perhaps by fortunate happenstance – since they want to beat everyone – been designed to beat Tigers!

Given Leicester’s strength in depth there will always be questions around selection, but the team chosen by Richard Wigglesworth would probably be agreed to be the strongest available, reflecting current form and the way in which the squad have performed to get into the top four.

In order to have a chance every one of the 23 will need to be at their very best, and they’ll probably need the proverbial bit of luck.

Whatever happens on Sunday, at least the Tigers can hold their heads high in terms of their attempt to defend their crown.

Very few sides would have survived their coaching staff being gutted, particularly after a start that wasn’t particularly inspiring, and still reached the knock-out stages.

Maybe this group can defy the odds one more time.