Leicester Tigers defeated Newcastle Falcons to take them within touching distance of the top six with seven rounds of Gallagher Premiership action remaining.
Tries from Hanro Liebenberg and Charlie Clare were supported by 16 points from the boot of George Ford as Tigers overcame losing two players to the sin bin with minutes of each other to grind out a 26-12 victory at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Here’s how our reporters rated the players out of ten…
15. Freddie Steward – 7
Bounced back from a heavy collision in the first half to exert his influence on the game under a high ball and displayed some promising signs in attack too.
His defensive reads are becoming a real feature of his game too, unfortunately, so is the occasionally fumbled high ball but the conditions were unfavourable at Welford Road.
Unlucky to see his second-half try chalked off, as this was ninth Tigers game without scoring. However, he would’ve impressed the on-watching Eddie Jones in a position that appears to be there for the taking.
14. Harry Potter – 7
No more puns on the name, for now. This was a contribution full of grit, desire and endeavour. Qualities that will endear him to Steve Borthwick on this rare opportunity to impress with Nemani Nadolo injured and Kobus van Wyk suspended.
Alert defensively to shepherd the ball out with Ben Stevenson breathing down his neck and tidied up a misjudged restart.
Excellent kick chase and tap tackle to earn a penalty after following up own charge down. Was twice replaced by Guy Porter, first for a HIA late in the first-half then again with 16 minutes remaining.
13. Matías Moroni – 6
Pounced on the loose ball to win back possession and fed Murimurivalu with a theatrical through the legs pass. Fumbled trying to force an offload attacking from deep in second half.
He tried to make things happen but was outshone by the man alongside him in the centres.
12. Dan Kelly – 8*
Borthwick clearly sees something in the teenager, now England head coach Jones might take some interest in him too.
He cut a great early line from the top of a lineout before producing a spectacular try-saving tackle in ‘Mat Tait corner’ to deny Ben Stevenson a certain score.
Kelly was a constant threat in attack and was up to the task of thwarting Newcastle’s ex-England centre Luther Burrell in the midfield channels.
10. George Ford – 8
This was the kind of game the Tigers fly-half needed after how his Six Nations ended with England. He ran the show and was the key point of difference between the sides.
A diagonal kick from open play flew fully 60 metes into the Falcons 22 where his pack swallowed up a drive to earn a scrum. His spiral bombs tormented Newcastle’s backfield and his goalkicking was sublime.
The penalty on the stroke of half-time was a punch to the visitors’ gut after also receiving a yellow card. A two-score lead became three, something that weighs heavy in a half-time team talk.
Untidy towards the end with a kick out on the full and a missed touch finder, but the game was already won and Ford was a key reason for his side being in that position of comfort.
9. Richard Wigglesworth – 6
Workmanlike contribution from the veteran scrum-half who edges ever nearer to become the Premiership’s first 300 appearance maker.
His distribution and kicking were solid, aside from one pass reeled in by Burrell, but made up for it with a nice looping wide ball to Potter.
1. Ellis Genge – 7.5
Required Borthwick to get between him and Falcons tighthead Jon Welsh prematch but soon switched his game head on when the whistle blew.
Blasted through Louis Schreuder with one barnstorming carry and weighed in with 15 tackles as he played his part in repelling Falcons’ second-half surges for the line.
Helped earn penalties at scrumtime but also was whistled for an offence too. Emptied the tank before de Bruin arrived with 11 minutes to go.
2. Tom Youngs – 6
Penalised for side entry for coming in at this side attempting to remove Wilson off the ball and didn’t quite work his magic from the rolling mauls which were well marshalled by the Falcons defence. Captaincy calls to go for the posts were the right ones given how the game panned out.
3. Dan Cole – 6
Won scrum penalty on own line to allow Ford to clear for touch. Played his part in a strong scrummaging display.
4. Harry Wells – 8
Week after week, the second-row/flanker is producing the good for Leicester Tigers, in winning and losing causes. His powerful carries are bolstered by formidable defence – nobody on the pitch made more (16).
His work close to the touchline in attacking positions is a trademark and also came up with a turnover while completing the full 80 minutes too.
5. Calum Green – 7
Didn’t quite hit the numbers of his lock partner but Green’s presence was noticeable against his former club. He made one forceful tackle on Stevenson metres from the line which dislodged the ball and weighed in with a lineout steal too.
Played his part in some ferocious goalline defence but was pinged for latching onto Tom Youngs despite a warning not to from a close-range penalty.
6. Hanro Liebenberg – 8
Early lineout pressure forced Newcastle into long throw and subsequent not straight trying to avoid him. He then got into Schreuder’s head with a charged down kick.
For a second week running he weighed in with a try that took some finishing under pressure. Having registered one try in his first 25 Tigers games, he now has two in two, perhaps in response to the tryscoring contributions of his fellow South Africans Cyle Brink and Wiese since joining the club.
Penalised for coming round as front man lifter but was a defensive leader, making a key tackle on Callum Chick early into the second half.
7. Tommy Reffell – 7
Produced a big hit to force a turnover when Tigers were 10 points up and made a perfect 10 from 10 tackles.
Wasn’t used a ball-carrying option but with the heavyweights he is surrounded by, that is understandable. Made way for George Martin with 22 minutes to go.
8. Jasper Wiese – 6.5
The number eight has got to change his approach to ruck clear outs, because the referees and the interpretation of the laws isn’t changing anytime soon. He was fortunate to get away with a side-entry penalty offence in the first half that injured Falcons prop Jon Welsh.
Then came his yellow card. It tiptoed on the tightrope of being a red card which mercifully didn’t come his way. The margins are so fine and a second dismissal in as many games would’ve led to a lengthy ban.
Wiese is a formidable weapon. Nobody at Tigers carries like him and his carry was key for Liebenberg’s try. He puts fear into opponents with his speed and power, but there’s a very noticeable chink in his armour which needs to be ironed out before it starts costing Tigers games of rugby.
Replacements:
16. Charlie Clare (for Youngs, 49’) – 7
17. Luan de Bruin (for Genge, 71’) – N/A
18. Joe Heyes (for Cole, 49’) – 6
19. Cameron Henderson (for Green, 66’) – 6
20. George Martin (for Reffell, 58’) – N/A
21. Jack Van Poortvliet (for Wigglesworth, 58’) – 6
22 Johnny McPhillips – not used
23 Guy Porter (for Potter, 36’- 40’, 64’) – 6
