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Both coaches' reaction to Leicester's demolition of reigning Prem champs
By PA
Head coach Michael Cheika believes he has learned from mistakes made earlier in the season as Leicester returned to Gallagher Premiership action with a 33-0 thumping of Northampton.
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The Tigers’ form faltered after the autumn international break, but there was no repeat following the Six Nations as three tries in the first 13 minutes took the match away from their East Midlands rivals.
It was also a spectacular start for new Leicester defence coach David Kidwell as champions Northampton were nilled for the first time since a 32-0 loss at Leicester in 2005 – and for the first time at home in the professional era.
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Cheika, whose side are up to third in the table, said: “I think we played some good footy in the first half – we probably weren’t as efficient in the second half with the ball, but defended really well.
“I think, personally, that I didn’t have them ready after the November internationals, maybe I’m not used to the traffic going the other way.
“I had players coming back to me as opposed to me used to receiving them from the clubs, so I really learned from that first part to make sure that when they come out post-Six Nations, they were ready in mindset, body and technically as well.
“Every win, especially in this competition – it’s so bloody tight – is super important and I liked the way we built up into these games, and now it’s about the continuity in our preparation, making sure we’re on the money to just keep that going.”
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Leicester quickly seized control as Adam Radwan’s opening try was followed by efforts from Jack van Poortvliet and Olly Cracknell.
Handre Pollard kept the score ticking for the Tigers with three penalties before Charlie Clare’s opportunist score sealed the bonus point in the closing stages.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said: “We actually started very well – we had an opportunity on their five-metre line, we were going great guns, spilled that and then continued to spill the ball, give it away in poor areas and we got punished for it.
“I don’t think it was a lack of effort, I think in many cases it was probably being a bit too desperate, trying too hard and forcing stuff that’s not necessarily on.
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“Again, creating that number of errors and not making anything stick, not going through any phases and not executing very much.
“It’s incredibly tough [to qualify for the play-offs] and we’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb, we can’t shy away from it.
“It’s not impossible but we’re going to have to be a darn sight better and we’re going to have to have a hard look at that as a game.”
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