Leicester centre Kyle Eastmond has called on the Tigers squad to show the ‘spirit and resilience’ on display in their most recent game at Welford Road.
Geordan Murphy’s men weathered a Wasps storm a fortnight ago to defend their home record in 2020, though slipped to an agonising defeat away to Sale Sharks in Round 11 of the Gallagher Premiership just six days later.
Now, as Tigers ready themselves for the visit of Worcester Warriors this Saturday (February 29, 3.00pm), Eastmond has insisted the men in green, white and red must draw on the experience of their last match in front of the Welford Road faithful.
“Our home form has been good recently, and I would never question the spirit and resilience of this group of players,” he said.
“Now we want to transfer all of that good work into an 80-minute game and we’ll definitely be a team to be reckoned with.
“[The win against Wasps] was awesome. In those conditions, everyone battled hard and we got back into the game and won it.
“There were times in that game where if we didn’t have those qualities we would have been beaten. But the guys showed that the spirit and resilience is there, and it is up to us to transfer the qualities on the other side of that into big performances and wins.”
While Tigers will be shorn of five England internationals on Saturday – as the national side prepare for next week’s Six Nations clash with Wales – inside centre Eastmond explained the squad will have to step up and be counted.
“I think it’s crucial that the leaders show the way in this part of the season,” he continued.
“You can lean on the experiences we have had and find the answers, but for me … I don’t think that changes from any other week.
“There might be responsibility when the internationals are away but you have that responsibility every week when you wear the shirt.
“You have to put your own qualities on show every week, every day, every training session.
“Ultimately it is about us, about Leicester going out and forcing ourselves on to the game.”
Match tickets for this weekend’s Round 12 game are available from £20 for adults and £8 for Under-18s at the Tigers ticket office, on 0116 319 8888 (option 2) or online using the links below.
