Leicester boss Michael Cheika likened the Gallagher Premiership play-off race to a Rugby World Cup pool stage after his crew beat title rivals Bristol 36-19 at Ashton Gate.
Tigers’ bonus-point win noticed them climb above Bristol, Sale and Saracens into second place, with 4 regular-season rounds remaining. There are simply 5 factors separating Leicester and sixth-placed Gloucester.
Bristol failed to gather a Premiership try-scoring bonus level for the primary time since late December after Leicester efficiently stalled their free-scoring machine.
And it additionally gave the Tigers revenge for a 54-24 drubbing by Bristol on house soil simply earlier than Christmas.
“They’re almost all finals now, all of the video games in the course of the run-in,” Leicester head coach Cheika stated.
Gallagher Premiership
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Complete
1
14
12
2
0
61
2
14
8
5
1
46
3
14
8
6
0
46
4
14
9
5
0
44
5
14
8
6
0
44
6
14
7
7
0
41
7
14
6
7
1
38
8
14
6
8
0
33
9
14
3
11
0
21
10
14
2
12
0
12
“It’s virtually like a gaggle stage of a World Cup. You’ve got to get as many factors as doable.
“The play-off possibilities will probably be determined after the ultimate recreation. There are not any factors for being third, fourth, first or second now. There isn’t a prize for that.
“For me, personally, and for us as a crew we actually needed to play this recreation for the followers. We had been poor the day they (Bristol) got here to us…and we actually did need to flip that round right this moment.
“It’s not nearly realizing the technique or technical stuff, it’s about doing it as effectively.
“The gamers accepted that problem and ready accordingly and in the event you put together accordingly in the course of the week you’ll get the efficiency you want when the strain is on.
“The primary factor we’ve bought to get in our heads is enjoying effectively at house. We’ve got performed some good video games at house however I need to be higher at house.”
Wings Adam Radwan and Ollie Hassell-Collins, scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, full-back Freddie Steward and lock Cameron Henderson scored tries for the Tigers, with fly-half Handre Pollard kicking three conversions and a penalty and Jamie Shillcock slotting one conversion.
Bristol trailed by 17 factors on the interval, and whereas they rallied after the break, the house aspect’s try-count stopped at three after Gabriel Ibitoye, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Harry Randall touched down, whereas AJ MacGinty added two conversions.
It was an excellent efficiency on the street by Leicester, one which was underpinned by a formidable show up entrance, with skipper Julian Montoya, lock Ollie Chessum and flanker Tommy Reffell amongst these to the fore.
Reflecting on the loss, Bristol rugby director Pat Lam stated: “We had been fairly sloppy within the first half. We tried to set a tempo and play, however conceded three mushy tries.
“We talked at half-time that we had been simply messy and once we are messy we’re simply common. We had lots of alternatives we didn’t repair and the very last thing you need to be is 2 scores down in opposition to Leicester with quarter-hour to go.
“Everyone seems to be fairly gutted but when we will get 4 or 5 (factors) subsequent week (in opposition to Northampton) it makes a giant distinction.”
