Tigers told to clean up their act
Today, 3pm
STEVE BORTHWICK insists his Leicester Tigers need to ‘change some old habits’ if they are to clamp down on their growing disciplinary problems.
Three red cards in five games and 14 yellows in as many games this season have resulted in the Welford Road outfit being one of the Premiership’s worst offenders.
Wing Kobus van Wyk received a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle in the defeat by Exeter
Chiefs while fellow South Africans Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese have also been sent off.
Despite missing key players through suspensions, it has not hindered Leicester’s bid to finish in the top four as they prepare to host Newcastle Falcons today.
But former England coach Borthwick insisted: “I’m never happy with the penalty count unless it’s zero on our side and a lot on the other in our favour.
“The red cards have all been for different reasons.
“One was a breakdown clear-out, another a player looking to catch a high ball and the other at the weekend, was Kobus chasing down a kick.
“Do we need to change our habits of playing the game lower? Yes. Have players been playing the game higher for 15 or 20 years? Yes. Can you change overnight? No. But we are definitely trying to improve in that area.”
Falcons coach Dean Richards is without Argentinian wing Mateo Carreras, who starts a nine-week ban.
The former Tigers favourite said: “It’s never the easiest of places to go back to as an opposing team but now would be a good time to get our winning mentality back.”
England stars George Ford and Ellis Genge return for Tigers following their Six Nations exploits.