Alesana Tuilagi made it three tries in two games with a double in the New Year's Day victory over Saracens which kept Leicester Tigers in second place in the Guinness Premiership table.

The Samoan winger scored his first try of the season with a last-minute touchdown at London Irish on Boxing Day which earned Tigers two bonus points, and followed up with two more in the 28-15 triumph over Saracens at Welford Road.

"I am happy to get a chance to play and get a few tries in the last few weeks," said Tuilagi, who has now scored 20 times in 46 games for the club.

"The first one today was after a great break from Scott Bemand and for the second one I just saw the ball bouncing around and I followed it and dived over the line."

Tuilagi also dived over the Sarries line for what he thought was a hat-trick, only for play to be hauled back for a knock-on near halfway.

"There are a lot of good players here in the team and I just hope to keep playing like this so I can keep my position," added Tuilagi. "Now we have another important game against Newcastle coming up and we just want to keep winning and stay near the top of the table."