Tom Youngs says the Leicester Tigers players showed their best levels of character and resilience in a derby victory on Saturday which pushed the team into the top four in the Aviva Premiership table.
Tigers took four points from a 36-31 victory against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens to overtake Bath in the play-off places at the top of the table.
Club captain Youngs said: “I don’t think it was the best performance of the season but it was the best character and resilience we have shown.
“It’s a massive win for us and it puts a bit of pressure on other teams. It’s huge for the confidence of the group too.”
Derby victory came at the end of a week which had included an Anglo-Welsh Cup Final win and the announcement that Matt O’Connor had been appointed as head coach, with Aaron Mauger in charge for the final time against Saints.
“I spoke to the players on Tuesday morning and said Aaron did not want sympathy, he just wanted us to go out and win at Saints and get back into the top four in the table. And that is what we did,” said Youngs.
“We can make excuses and sit back and talk about disruption, or we can show resilience and character and how good we can be and send Aaron on his way with a good win. We did that.
"We have a good group of guys, it’s a tight group and you can see that. I’m very proud of the guys, not just the 23 on the pitch but all those involved in training this week."
Tigers are back in action on Saturday, April 8 when they face Bath Rugby in a Round 19 fixture at Twickenham Stadium before successive home games against Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks. The final game of the league programme is away to Worcester Warriors on May 6. For match tickets details for all remaining fixtures, click here.
Tigers took four points from a 36-31 victory against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens to overtake Bath in the play-off places at the top of the table.
Club captain Youngs said: “I don’t think it was the best performance of the season but it was the best character and resilience we have shown.
“It’s a massive win for us and it puts a bit of pressure on other teams. It’s huge for the confidence of the group too.”
Derby victory came at the end of a week which had included an Anglo-Welsh Cup Final win and the announcement that Matt O’Connor had been appointed as head coach, with Aaron Mauger in charge for the final time against Saints.
“I spoke to the players on Tuesday morning and said Aaron did not want sympathy, he just wanted us to go out and win at Saints and get back into the top four in the table. And that is what we did,” said Youngs.
“We can make excuses and sit back and talk about disruption, or we can show resilience and character and how good we can be and send Aaron on his way with a good win. We did that.
"We have a good group of guys, it’s a tight group and you can see that. I’m very proud of the guys, not just the 23 on the pitch but all those involved in training this week."
Tigers are back in action on Saturday, April 8 when they face Bath Rugby in a Round 19 fixture at Twickenham Stadium before successive home games against Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks. The final game of the league programme is away to Worcester Warriors on May 6. For match tickets details for all remaining fixtures, click here.
