Leicester Tigers participant rankings: Leicester booked their place within the Gallagher Premiership last towards Bath after a 21-16 win over Sale Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Street on Saturday.
A decent match was anticipated, and that’s precisely what we bought, with the scores stage at 16-16 heading into the ultimate quarter-hour.
The house facet did sufficient to get the win, although, however there can be some sore our bodies following a bodily sport.
Right here’s how the gamers rated:
15 Freddie Steward – 8
Mr Dependable. Made 55 metres — greater than any Tiger — and was strong beneath the excessive ball. Added some probing attacking kicks, however his best contribution got here on the finish with some essential tackles – one within the nook on Jean-Luc du Preez and his knock-on-enforcing deal with on Luke Cowan-Dickie to finish the match.
14 Adam Radwan – 8.5
Extra of a bystander within the second half, however that didn’t matter after a primary 40 through which he produced two elite finishes. The primary – the place he seemingly stepped three gamers directly – was good, the second – the place he leapt to catch a scuffed cross-kick from Handre Pollard – was world-class. Made a powerful case for an England recall with that show.
13 Solomone Kata – 7.5
Thundered into 13 carries, made 40 metres and beat 5 defenders. Persistently bent the Sale line. Huge shift defensively too, with 9 tackles.
12 Joseph Woodward – 6.5
Nameless in assault (simply two carries), however held the road defensively with one deal with. Not a poor sport, only a peripheral one. Nonetheless uncooked, and nonetheless studying on the age of 21.
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins – 7
Quiet outing. Six carries for 20 metres, however struggled to impose himself. Obtained by means of three tackles however was largely properly contained.
10 Handré Pollard – 6.5
For a participant who has made a profession of slotting kicks when wanted, this was an uncharacteristically poor day from the tee for the World Cup-winning Springbok, with two kicks from 5. Extra composed in open play, although, regardless of the stress Sale put him beneath. His physique was battered and bruised in that second half, with a brief HIA spell.
9 Jack van Poortvliet – 7
Beautiful cross to place Radwan in for the opening attempt of the match, and managed proceedings properly within the first half when Leicester have been on high. Misplaced his griphold on the sport after the break, however that was partly right down to Sale upping their efforts.
1 Nicky Smith – 6
Penalised within the scrum when Leicester have been beneath growing stress within the second half, as Sale’s substitute WillGriff John discovered some success. Strong within the scrum previous to that.
2 Julián Montoya – 9
Appeared determined to increase his Leicester profession by one other week. 19 tackles (sure, 19), 9 carries with two defenders crushed. An important penalty received on the breakdown to go together with it. Led the crew like a hero and was rightfully named participant of the match.
3 Joe Heyes – 7.5
Would have loved getting the higher hand over fellow England prop Bevan Rodd, and Steve Borthwick would have preferred what he noticed as properly.
4 Cameron Henderson – 7
Gritty, bodily and a piece price to match. 11 tackles, seven carries, and a pair of passes thrown in. One of many unsung engines behind Leicester’s defensive wall. Huge man, large shift.
5 Ollie Chessum – 8.5
What an engine the Lion has, seemingly growing in vitality within the last 10 minutes with a half-break and a few imposing tackles when Sale launched a late onslaught. A lineout chief with 9 wins, three defenders crushed and 9 tackles are simply a few of his spectacular stats. Did all the things you need from a contemporary second row. One in all England’s greatest, and it exhibits weekly.
6 Hanro Liebenberg – 7.5
One other busy outing — 9 carries, 11 tackles, and two lineouts received. Obtained by means of a mountain of labor and helped nullify Sale’s go-forward early on.
7 Tommy Reffell – 7
In his one centesimal Premiership look, Leicester’s turnover king had a captivating battle with the curry twins. If there was a ruck to hitch, the Welshman would trigger a nuisance at it, and it’s maybe no shock that Sale discovered extra fluidity as soon as he left the sphere after an hour.
8 Olly Cracknell – 8
Topped the carry charts with 20 and was second for metres made amongst Tigers (42). Threw in seven tackles for good measure. Immense work price, even in defeat.
Replacements
16 Charlie Clare – 7
Obtained caught in with six tackles and three metres carried. Did the fundamentals properly.
17 James Cronin – 6.5
Injected some vitality and weight to the Leicester defence.
18 Dan Cole – 6.5
Held up his finish on the set-piece in restricted minutes. 4 tackles and a handful of rucks hit.
19 Matt Rogerson – 7
Two carries, 5 tackles, didn’t overplay in an industrious 10-minute cameo on the finish. Good and tidy from the previous London Irish skipper.
20 Emeka Ilione – 7.5
Enormous turnover when Sale have been simply toes from Leicester’s line with minutes left to play.
21 Ben Youngs – 6.5
An skilled determine to deliver on within the closing phases, though there was one questionable choice handy possession over to Sale when Leicester might have held on to the ball. His profession continues into one last week.
22 Ben Volavola – 6
Brief cameo from the bench whereas Pollard was having an HIA, which did embody a missed kick.
23 Izaia Perese – 8
The match winner with a beautiful attempt simply after Sale had levelled the rating. Carved by means of the Sale defence inside seconds of coming into the sphere to attain a solo effort.
