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Tempo is key to Tigers triumph

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Richard Cockerill says an increase in tempo in the second half was the key to Aviva Premiership victory over Harlequins on Sunday.

Leading 9-6 at half-time in the Round 8 fixture, Tigers claimed a breakthrough try from Owen Williams shortly before the hour mark, with Freddie Burns providing the other points in a 25-6 triumph which keeps Cockerill’s team in the top four in the table.
 
“We were a little bit flat in the first half but in the second half we had more energy with and without the ball,” said Tigers director of rugby Cockerill.
 
“Our half-backs kept us in the right areas and controlled ball very well.
 
“At half-time it all felt a bit flat, like we were playing within ourselves a bit. But the players had hit the nail on the head, they said we needed a bit more energy about us. We just needed to up the tempo of the game.
 
“In the second half we were better carrying the ball, we had more more urgency and physicality. It was a good try scored from Freddie’s vision with the little chip and in the end we got the win, we take the points and we move on.”
 
Cockerill was also delighted with the attitude of the team in defence, denying opposition a try for the first time in the league this season.
 
“The appetite of the players was superb, they were on our goalline scrapping for everything, even when the game was won,” he said. “We wanted the nil try count and we did that really well.
 
“Quins are a side that can score from anywhere, so it was good to get more than a couple of scores ahead and then still shut them out.
 
“It was a solid performance and a good win, something to build on for Bristol on a short turnaround on Friday.”
 
Tigers lost Tom Croft (head), Mathew Tait (jaw) and Marcos Ayerza (calf) during the game and all will be assessed before preparations begin again for the trip to Bristol in Round 9.