Victory at Sixways on Sunday completed a hat-trick for Leicester Tigers on artificial surfaces in Aviva Premiership action this season.
Wins on synthetic surfaces have been hard to come by for Tigers in previous seasons, but the team have now made it three in a row in the league and four in a row in all competitions since the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final at Saracens last season.
Tigers score three tries in a win at Newcastle’s Kingston Park in October. The team added four in the win over Saracens at Allianz Park and then five at Worcester’s Sixways last Sunday with Greg Bateman, Telusa Veainu, Jonah Holmes and Manu Tuilagi on the scoresheet in each of those two fixtures.
“Playing on those pitches is becoming more regular and guys are getting more exposure to them because there are more of them in the league now,” said Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor.
“I think everyone understands them better as a coaching group and a playing group, and we have delivered on them in the last couple of weeks. Everyone has adjusted those dynamics slightly so we are better prepared for the surface and that has been very beneficial for us.”
Tigers have two weekends free before returning to action against Wasps at Welford Road on Sunday, March 25.
“We’ve got a bit of momentum but we’re happy to have the break,” added O’Connor. “Those surfaces take it out of you, with the back-to-back games and the training on 4G as well because of the snow, and the bodies are a bit more sore than usual, and they’ve been really intense contests as well.”
Tickets for Tigers versus Wasps are on general sale now. Book in person at Welford Road, phone 0116 319 8888 or online.
