If you are a Tigers supporter, then you’ll have been looking forward to this eight-day spell for some time. If you’re not a Tigers supporter, what are you doing here? Or should I say, welcome and we’re glad to have you on board!
Going to Northampton is never an easy task, no matter what is at stake, how many internationals are available, or which competition we’re playing in. The fact that Tigers have enjoyed a good run of form against our nearest neighbours did little to calm the emotions of this fan on the way there either.
But the performance and the result last Saturday, following such a grinding win at Exeter the previous week, is just about the perfect build-up to a glamour trip to Toulon.
Tigers played with authority, the forwards were physical and controlled, the backs clinical and cool, and the defence equal parts stubborn and organised.
The result means a massive amount to the supporters and, although the five points are exactly the same value as from any other bonus-point victory, there is another pay-off in terms of the mindset now taken forward into a European contest against one of the continent’s biggest-spending clubs.
Confidence and momentum are huge factors in professional sport.
We all enjoy days at work where everything seems to go our way, and we use this as a tool to push a bit further than normal, take on a bit more than normal and generally feel good about ourselves. That feeling in a sporting context can mean such a lot in contest generally split by small margins.
One of the great things about the Tigers players over the years is that, although they will have enjoyed Saturday, the emotions will have been checked as soon as they got back to training 48 hours later. The points have been logged, the analysis of good and bad sorted. Now they move on.
Sure, no one will be under any illusions as they pack their bags ready for the journey to the south-eastern corner of France. But just having the benefit of two strong wins on two of the most treacherous away days in the league will have done everybody the world of good.
