By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-11-05 08:03:38
1 week ago
It remains intensely frustrating that top-of-the-table encounters can be so affected by England training camps, but this one did at least develop into an entertaining spectacle punctuated by eight tries.
A blend of mauling, Handré Pollard’s boot and the explosive Izaia Perese proved enough for Leicester Tigers to hold off Saracens and register a fifth victory in six competitive games under Michael Cheika. Joe Woodward, the 21-year-old inside centre, continued a classy campaign as well. Afterwards, Cheika hailed the collective tenacity of his team.
“I think we’ve seen [fight] from the start down in Exeter,” said the Tigers head coach. “It’s one of the most important things for a team in a contact sport. You’ve got to be brave and you’ve got to have fight in you. We want to fight to protect our island, in Leicester, and represent it well in the Premiership.”
Tom Willis will have nudged Steve Borthwick with an irrepressible effort in a losing cause for Saracens, who picked up a pair of bonus points. When the final whistle blew, Leicester had climbed to second behind Bath. Bristol and Saracens make up a chasing pack that have earned some breathing space ahead of a break from league action.
These encounters between squads shorn of England internationals should be extinct. As things are, the importance of each one is amplified with just 18 regular season games. And round 11, at the end of January, will be similarly affected by England’s preparations for the Six Nations.
Saracens were missing seven members to Borthwick’s autumn squad, with Tigers deprived of five. The hosts also lost Alex Goode and Marco Riccioni to late withdrawals, which introduced an apt protagonist.
The 31-year-old Tim Swiel had only this week joined Saracens, for his second stint in north London, on a short-term deal. Fergus Burke and Louie Johnson are already absent from Mark McCall’s fly-half stable and Swiel, who counts teams in South Africa, England, Scotland and Japan on a long résumé, proved popular on his last stay. His 14-point haul was not quite enough.
McCall was proud of the adaptability demonstrated by Saracens, particularly from 32-17 behind. “We lost our starting props in the last 24 hours, we lost Fergus on Wednesday, Tim Swiel hadn’t run a play with us and for him to get thrown in at the deep end wasn’t easy. Our rugby wasn’t great, but we did have resolve, resilience and spirit. That gets you a long way.”
Predictably, given the teams were shorn of influential figures, the first 14 minutes were eminently forgettable until Pollard’s penalty foreshadowed four quick tries. Willis’ offload laid on the first for Nick Tompkins and then Woodward’s grubber found Ollie Hassell-Collins.
Pollard then hoisted a high ball that was taken beautifully by Anthony Watson and Perese surged through Tobias Elliott.
Individuals of supreme quality were still on show and one of them, Juan Martín González, sliced Leicester up the middle before releasing a supporting Swiel. A well-struck Swiel penalty soon had Saracens in front, but Hassell-Collins drove Tigers into range with a superb 50:22.
The maul powered close, with Alec Clarey conceding both a penalty try and a yellow card. Tom Parton derailed another Perese rampage early in the second period but Julián Montoya’s breakdown steal set up another drive, from which the Argentina hooker sealed a bonus point. Pollard split the posts with a penalty for a 32-17 advantage at the end of the third quarter, yet Saracens continued to eke out chances.
Willis trampled Pollard and González followed up to bring matters closer. Josh Hallett then burst away down the left flank, with James Hadfield eventually profiting from close range. Although Theo McFarland went to work on the Tigers line-out, rising to nab several throws, and Willis did not stop grafting, Leicester edged through for another impressive win.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 0-3 Pollard penalty, 5-3 Tompkins try, 7-3 Swiel conversion, 7-8 Hassell-Collins try, 7-10 Pollard conversion, 7-15 Perese try, 12-15 Swiel try, 14-15 Swiel conversion, 17-15 Swiel conversion, 17-22 penalty try, 17-27 Montoya try, 17-29 Pollard conversion, 17-32 Pollard penalty, 22-32 González try, 27-32 J Hadfield try, 29-32 Swiel conversion
Saracens: T Parton; T Elliott, L Cinti (J Hallett 50), N Tompkins, R Segun (B Jackson 65); T Swiel, I van Zyl (G Simpson 57); E Mawi, K Pifeleti (J Hadfield 51), A Clarey (O Hoskins 56), T McFarland, H Tizard, J Martín González (N Michelow 68), T Knight, T Willis
Replacements not used: H Wilson
Yellow card: Clarey, 42
Leicester Tigers: M Brown (W Wand 70); A Watson, I Perese, J Woodward (J Shillcock 70), O Hassell-Collins; H Pollard, T Whiteley (B Youngs 55); N Smith (J Cronin 68), J Montoya (C Clare 70), J Heyes (W Hurd 62) H Wells, T Manz (C Joussain 70), H Wells, H Liebenberg, T Reffell (M Rogerson 57), O Cracknell
Referee: M Carley (RFU)
