.png)
6 hours ago
4
Emotions are bound to run high at Welford Road on Saturday, and not just because Bath are in town to renew one of the great rivalries in English rugby.
Not even because Leicester’s round-four date with the reigning champions is a repeat of last season’s final, a little over four months ago, when Johann van Graan’s side resisted a fierce Tigers fightback at Twickenham to claim their first league title in 29 years.
The emotion for Leicester fans, in particular, will be generated by an appearance from Lewis Moody, the former England flanker, who revealed this month he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Moody spent 14 seasons with the East Midlands club, amassing 223 appearances and scoring 32 tries. Perhaps it is less well remembered that he was a two-club man who finished his career at Bath, finally forced to retire due to injury in 2012.
The combative flanker won seven league titles and two European Cups with the Tigers, won the 2003 Rugby World Cup with England, captained his country and represented the British & Irish Lions. It will be a highly charged moment for all present when Moody appears.
He is a legend of the game whose future has become worryingly uncertain. While a causal link between MND and collision sports remains unproven, Moody joins a number of high-profile former players, such as the late Doddie Weir, to develop the condition. A fundraiser set up by his former Leicester teammates Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd has already raised nearly £170,000. Leicester have enabled donations to the fund for fans buying match tickets online, and a number of Moody’s former teammates will be present helping to raise money.
Among the scientific community the only consensus regarding MND and rugby is that more research is needed and Moody, described by Murphy as “simply the most kind and inspirational person”, is already raising awareness.
Considering the form of the two sides, a traditionally monumental contest may fail to materialise. Leicester have won 121 of 211 matches between the teams but it would be little surprise if Bath, with three bonus-point victories from three, storm the Welford Road fortress. They won this fixture three times last season.
The new Tigers head coach, Geoff Parling, has one victory on the board after three rounds, at home against Harlequins two weeks ago. Away defeats by Bristol and Northampton came either side and things will not get any easier against ever-improving Bath.
The Argentina international Santi Carreras slots in at full-back for the champions, his first start after moving from Gloucester, teaming up in the back three with the lightning-quick England wing Henry Arundell. Up front the former Exeter hooker Dan Frost also starts for the first time, while Tom Dunn is poised to make his 250th appearance from the bench.
The influential Springbok prop Thomas du Toit, who this week announced his intention to return to South Africa next summer, is also among the replacements, with Ewan Richards, the talented lock who scored twice in last weekend’s win against Gloucester, aiming to make an impact for his 50th cap. Tom de Glanville will bring up a century of Bath games on the opposite wing to Arundell and with Finn Russell at No 10, and Ben Spencer captain and scrum-half, there is threat everywhere from a team who have scored 16 tries in three matches.
after newsletter promotion
Leicester also have international quality to add to the back division with the Australia international fly-half James O’Connor due to make his first Prem start. The 35-year-old returns for a third stint in the division, having previously played for London Irish and Sale, and came off the bench late in last weekend’s defeat by Northampton.
O’Connor will have Freddie Steward operating behind him – the England full-back made 18 carries in round three, the most of any player. Adam Radwan lines up on the wing, competing against Bath’s Arundell in a confrontation between two of the quickest players in the division. Ollie Chessum, who returned to action for his club early after British & Irish Lions duty, captains Leicester at lock.
“Fifteen points on offer and we’ve got 15 points,” Van Graan said of Bath’s encouraging start. “The season will ebb and flow. All clubs get injuries, we’ll get some good decisions, bad decisions … you’ll win some games you shouldn’t, you’ll lose some you should win. That’s the beauty of the game we all love.”
When it is mentioned that retaining the title has proved impossible recently – the last club to manage it was Saracens in 2018- 19 – Van Graan vowed to take things step by step.
“We are looking for improvement every week,” he said. “We’ll measure ourselves internally at the back end of May, which seems an eternity away. You’ve got to be in contention in May, and we’ll know then if we’ve achieved it or not.”
