In the run up to last weekend's fixture at home to Sale Sharks, quite rightly all the talk and focus was on the physicality that both teams would bring to the game, with all the wisdom speculating that the winner of the physical battle would go on to win the game. Well as it goes, all the talk and wisdom was correct. Leicester Tigers won the physical duel - "The Battle of The Biltong" if you will - a major reason why they then won the game, maintaining their 100% record with 6 wins from their first 6 games.
There are many reasons why Tigers have had such an impressive start to the season, however two of the most important reasons why Tigers are where they are, were on show on Saturday afternoon. Their physical dominance, yes of course, however what has helped cause this? Well both their work in defence, and their superb fitness. Both of which helped win the game Saturday, as well as the rest of the fixtures prior. As a result, a lot of praise has to go to both Aled Walters and Sir/Super Kevin Sinfield, the architects of this impressive body of work.
A lot of praise has been heaped on the much improved recruitment of the playing squad at Tigers, as it should be. The squad now, is far and away in a much better place than it was a couple of seasons ago. It is far better balanced, with young, hungry and talented players throughout, providing Steve Borthwick with plenty of options to choose from each weekend. However, another area where improvement in the recruitment can be seen is in the coaching squad, and the additions of both Walters and Sinfield, are looking more and more inspired. With each week that goes by demonstrating this further.
Super Kev
Let's start with the defence. Eyebrows were raised across the rugby world when Leicester Tigers announced that the legend of Leeds Rhinos and rugby league was joining the club as defence coach. Not that they thought he was not up to the task, but more I suspect at how little rugby union experience he had, and if he could get to grips with Union quickly enough. Whilst Leicester's defence last season, let by Mike Ford was solid, it is not too long ago for Tigers fans to have forgotten the regular thrashings that defined the Geordan Murphy era. Whilst there has been a list of rugby league expats making their way in Union to give optimism at the announcement - Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell for example - making the leap across codes still represented something of a gamble.
However, on the evidence so far, it looks a corker of a signing. Whilst only early days still, the Tigers defence looks a mean, physical and well-organised unit. Line speed is strong and aggressive, providing an almost oppressive blanket against the opposition, putting pressure on at all times, that many teams cannot cope with. In addition, Tigers look super well-drilled in defence, reading dummy runners and inside balls their opponents throw at them time and time again. The effect both factors have is to create a seemingly impregnable wall, looking sturdier and sturdier. Whilst David Flatman may not agree with Mike's tweet from The Rolling Maul twitter account, stating that defences win Championships, I do. A great defence is a worthy indicator of a top team, and it is a strong factor as to why Tigers sit top of the league early on in this season.
This is backed up by the numbers produced. Firstly, at the tries conceded. Tigers have only conceded 9 tries to date, which is an awesome statistic, and puts them 2nd in the league behind Saracens in this metric. This is particularly impressive when considering they have conceded only 2 tries in the last 4 games. Projecting forwards, if they continue at the current rate, that would mean only 36 tries conceded across the 24 rounds - a target that Sinfield would love the team to work towards. To put this in context, last season Tigers conceded 62 tries. To pretty much halve your tries conceded in 12 months would be a truly remarkable statistic. Early days for sure, and a lot of rugby to be played still, but as we have ticked over a quarter of the season already, that is a really strong position to be in.
Defence of course is not just about the tries conceded, though it is very strong measure of how well you are getting on. The raw numbers of tackles made each game by Leicester is also highly impressive. Lets look at the Sale game just gone. According to the Premiership Rugby website, Tigers made 119 tackles with only 13 missed. BT Sport's Ross Hamilton gave them a 91% tackle success in his excellent Stats overview of the game. The previous week against Worcester again shows this up in good light. This time 187 tackles made, with only 17 missed according to Premiership Rugby - 92% from Ross. The numbers themselves are impressive enough on their own, however remember the context in which they were made. At Sixways, Tigers spent the vast majority of the 3rd quarter, camped on their own tryline as Worcester hammered desperately at the door, however it was all for nothing. Tigers did not concede a point, let alone a try. This "shall not pass attitude" is superb, and perfectly demonstrates the heart and character of this group, and their desire to keep their opponents out.
The Aled Factor
Heart, character and strong organisation are all good components of a good defence, and of a good team, but those factors on their own are not enough, you need more - an X Factor. For Tigers, that X Factor comes from a Welshman called Aled Walters. As signings go, his really has been a terrific acquisition, and credit must go to those who brought him in. Tigers are a team transformed under Borthwick, and a lot of that comes from the work that Walters has done with the group. Rugby is a game about executing the fundamentals of the sport to a very high standard. What has been impressive about Tigers is that their all-round game has been so strong. All facets are being completed to a very high standard, consistently. But what allows them to do that is their supremely high fitness levels. It means they can do it, and keep going, over and over and over again, across not just the 80 minutes but any overtime as well.
It now means they can outgun their opponents in this department. Tigers are a team transformed from the one that finished 11th twice in a row, where going the distance proved a step too far on too many occasions, as Borthwick likes to mention frequently. In those years, Tigers lost games they could and should have got something from - they now do the complete opposite. All rugby teams now are pretty fit, rugby is a highly physical game played at an attritional standard - gone are the days where you have plodders in your squad. However to get ahead, you need a point of difference. For Leicester, Aled is that difference, and it is showing in the results being produced.
For example, let's not just look at the raw results, but the context in which they were won. At home to Exeter, they blew them away in their aggression and physicality. Away at Gloucester, they held off the home team's comeback charge, defending rigorously on their own line long after the 80 minutes had gone to ensure victory. At home to Saracens, they set up and pushed over their illustrious opponents with a penalty try from a rolling maul post the 80 minute mark. Away to Irish, they squeezed out their opponents in the last quarter to grind out an away win after being behind. Away to Worcester, they blew their opponents away in the final quarter to completely pulverise them on the scoreboard. At home to Sale, they soaked up their opponent's physicality and professionally saw the game out in the last quarter. Each of their victories this year can be attributed to the fitness levels that Aled has given the side.
We talk about the recruitment and the depth of the Tigers squad, and it is very good. It means Borthwick can empty his bench at will to get his team across the line. However, thanks to Aled's hard work, the starters who stay on the field are also able to contribute to this effort. Look back to Saturday, the front row stayed on the field for 74-75 minutes. Not because there was a lack of faith in the replacement players' abilities, more a statement of the high performance levels of those who began the game. Dan Cole for example is rolling back the clock, as he makes turnovers, completes tackles and mullering opposition scrums. He even leads the defensive line in a kickchase. To be able to do that having started each game indicates the hard work being put in on Oval Park.
As Charlie Morgan from The Telegraph has noted, Tigers are a fit team, and have the swagger of a group that know they are too. It means they win games they have no right to, and see them out when under pressure. It has also added to their defensive work that has gone up several gears under the influence of Sir Kev. Great defence, driven by top drawer fitness, driving quality performances and results. There is still a lot of rugby to be played, and further challenges and hurdles to overcome, not least this weekend's East Midlands Derby away at Franklins Gardens, where both fitness and defence will be tested to its maximum by that lot down the road. However thanks to the work of our World-Class coaches, Tigers fans know the team is in safe hands to meet them head on. Up the Tigers!
(The profile picture of this piece is taken from the Leicester Tigers Twitter page and all credit should go to them)