They reckon they have been through some turbulent times here of late but this was as wild and unfathomable as anything seen in these parts, quite possibly ever. If Leicester have become famous for anything over the years it is for something rather meaner and more curmudgeonly than this. Eighty-two points liberally shared about and 10 tries perfectly so.
It might be stretching it to claim that, having blown Newcastle away in the first half, they were grateful to escape with the result, but allowing their visitors to finish with five tries of their own is a far cry from the Tigers of old, if not the more recent vintage. Having broken new ground earlier in the week for early-season dismissals, Leicester have launched Geordan Murphy’s reign, however long that proves to be in these uncertain times, with a performance of appropriate attacking style. The rest can come later. Five tries, albeit none in the second half, and 29 points from George Ford, who scored the first and looked quite the puppeteer once more, is something to be getting on with.
“I heard 64 people had applied for the job on the first day,” said Murphy of his potential rivals for the head coach role in the longer term, following Matt O’Connor’s sacking on Monday. “It’s no concern of mine. I don’t know if I’m the right man for the job but I’m going to do the best I can while I’m in charge.”
Newcastle arrived, led by the very man who symbolises all Leicester once stood for, Dean Richards, and staffed by a host of alumni who have followed him to the north-east. As if the Tigers needed any more motivation.
Under the circumstances, they might have settled happily for 40-19. As it turns out, that was merely the score at half-time. This was a riot of try-scoring, further debunking the cliche that the style of Premiership rugby (and refereeing) holds back the national team.
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Not that any self-respecting defence coach would appreciate what they saw. “Defensively we were woeful in the first half,” said Richards. “That first 30 minutes was the worst we’ve defended in a long, long time.”
Leicester had the bonus point by the 23rd minute – with the most raucously greeted try of them all. Manu Tuilagi burst on to a short ball from Kyle Eastmond, breaking the first tackles and galloping the remaining 40 metres to the line, showing a turn of pace. The catharsis – for player, teammates and crowd alike – was intense. It opened up a 32-7 lead. The Murphy era was under way in a style befitting the old maestro, having started with Ford’s try after 107 seconds, teasing Newcastle’s defence twice, scoring from the second dart.
Toby Flood, another old favourite around here, had a miserable first half, among other errors missing an early penalty before throwing a pass on his own 10m line that was easily intercepted by Brendan O’Connor, who set up Jonny May for Leicester’s second before 10 minutes was up. O’Connor put away his other winger, Adam Thompstone, four minutes later for try number three, but was off before the half was up, as was Eastmond.
Newcastle did not reach the Tigers’ 22 until the end of the first quarter but, as is their way, they scored from it, Sinoti Sinoti crashing through off Flood’s inside ball to set up Sonatane Takulua. They scored two more before the break. In this melting pot of Leicester’s past and future it had to be Niki Goneva, another once of this parish, who scored both, typically smart finishes, before May squeezed in Leicester’s fifth before the break.
The madness continued into the second, not least for the sight of Leicester conceding two tries from driven lineouts within seven minutes of each other. Mark Wilson’s earned them a bonus point, while Sami Mavinga’s in the 53rd minute meant five tries played five. At 43-33, only Ford’s penalties separated the teams. After another brilliant break of his forced Newcastle into conceding again, he notched his fifth.
In the final quarter, the Falcons were held up over the line and Telusa Veainu sent to the sin-bin, but it was as close as they would come. Ford’s sixth penalty in the last minute put an end to the madness. Far too early to herald a renaissance, but they are smiling again – laughing even – at Welford Road.