As Australia and South Africa do battle at Lord’s within the World Take a look at Championship last, an Australian coach and a South African coach take their groups to Twickenham for the playoff last.
Each coaches are comparatively new to their present environment, and one, Michael Cheika, is simply on a flying go to to the East Midlands. Johann van Graan, however, isn’t going anyplace anytime quickly, except one thing untoward occurs.
Historical past Repeats
Tub and Leicester have performed one another a whopping 209 occasions! The West Nation staff has gained on 75 events. Historical past may favour the Tigers, however Tub have gained the final two conferences. When the perimeters met in Might, the Blue, Black, and Whites ran out resounding victors, 43-15.
That assembly passed off at The Recreation Floor again on the 18th of Might. Regardless of the lopsided scoreline, that recreation was a hard-fought, shut affair.
Each groups had 50% possession through the recreation, and each groups gained 17 lineouts. Tub shaded the territory battle, with 51%, however conceded extra penalties. Van Graan’s staff conceded 12 to Tub’s 9, however they each acquired yellow playing cards for prime tackles.
With Tub seeking to full a historic treble this season, you may suppose this recreation is a foregone conclusion. And with Leicester fortunate to even be within the last after Freddie Steward may (and doubtless ought to) have conceded a penalty to value them the semi-final, Tub followers will likely be anticipating a calming afternoon.
The Protagonists
Cheika has one important benefit over van Graan: the Aussie has coached at Twickenham on 14 completely different events! Graan’s solely go to got here 12 months in the past when his Tub staff misplaced 25-21 to Northampton.
The Antipodean Tigers staff has already visited West London this season, drawing 34-34 with Harlequins. That recreation was marked by a 78th-minute strive by Dan Cole that Handre Pollard transformed to rescue a end result.
What to Anticipate
With the current assembly contemporary within the reminiscence, you’ll be able to ensure that Tub Leicester are going to be decided to proper some wrongs.
After Beno Obano’s pink card performed a big position in Tub’s 2024 last loss, self-discipline will likely be key this day trip. However with Karl Dickson on the whistle and Ian Tempest as TM,O solely critical penalty offences are going to draw any consideration.
If type is any information to success, then Leicester are in pole place to take the trophy residence. The Tigers needed to battle till the tip in opposition to a cussed Sale staff to make the ultimate. Tub solely needed to keep inside touching distance of a Bristol staff who blew themselves out within the first 45 minutes.
Whereas Tub have tried to rotate their squad considerably, they’re nearing the tip of a season that has concerned three lengthy cup runs and profitable 14 of their 18 league video games.
With historical past, type and the additional motivation of the pinnacle coach and fly-half departing on the finish of the sport, it isn’t simple to see previous a Tigers win.
