From the opening whistle to the last, Leicester’s home supporters lapped up the spectacle. Sure it was scrappy, sure both teams coughed up several opportunities, and sure, this wasn’t exactly rugby at its most organised. But it was entertaining. And judging by the volume of the crowd, and the number of ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ they emitted, they were enjoying themselves under blue east Midlands skies.
On that they differed with Leicester’s coach Steve Borthwick who, as Ellis Genge revealed, gave his team a “bollocking”. This was the antithesis of Borthwick-ball which is characterised by a ruthlessness in the red zone, discipline at set-piece and an efficiency at the breakdown. To give them their dues, they were commanding in defence as white waves routinely crashed on green and red rocks.
