Loffreda reflects on return of Ellis
Leicester Tigers boss Marcelo Loffreda does not want Harry Ellis rushed through the ranks following the star scrum-half's return from serious injury.
Leicester Tigers boss Marcelo Loffreda does not want Harry Ellis rushed through the ranks following the star scrum-half's return from serious injury.
Ellis, England's best player in the last year's Six Nations Championship, has not played Test rugby since the Millennium Stadium loss to Wales last March.
And Loffreda believes it is vital Ellis grows back into the game following a ten-month injury absence after he underwent knee reconstruction surgery.
Ellis appeared as a second-half substitute during Leicester's 34-21 Guinness Premiership victory over Leeds Carnegie, a result that took Tigers just two points behind leaders Gloucester.
“Harry Ellis is an outstanding player, and he has been great for the club,” said Loffreda.
“Everyone is happy to welcome him back. He is a very good person, and that's good for the team.
“But he has been out for a long time. It is important not to rush things when you have not played for ten months.”
Provided Ellis emerges unscathed from the remainder of Leicester's domestic league and cup campaign, he will probably be invited on the two-Test tour of New Zealand with England in June.
Ellis watched from the sidelines as Leeds took a shock 13-0 lead at Welford Road – prop Fosi Pala'amo scored after just 55 seconds – before Tigers resumed normal service.
Tries by Jordan Crane, Tom Varndell, Johne Murphy, Ian Humphreys and a penalty try confirmed an anticipated comfortable victory that left relegation favourites Leeds 10 points adrift at the Premiership basement.
Leeds rugby director Stuart Lancaster said: “We have got three massive games coming up now.
“We play Bristol, Worcester and Newcastle. We know we have got to start putting some wins together – they are crucial games for us.”
Gloucester saw their lead at the top trimmed when substitute George Robson's late try gave Harlequins a thrilling 30-25 success at the Twickenham Stoop.
Quins are now just one point off the title play-off pace, and rugby director Dean Richards said: “It is a great result in terms of setting our stall out playing against the best in England.
“Gloucester play a great brand of rugby, but we persevered right through to the end. It was a difficult time in November and December for us, but we had a break and took a few things back to basics.
“The coaches have never lost confidence in the players.”
Gloucester goal-kicker Willie Walker missed five shots at goal, although the visitors claimed two bonus points courtesy of their losing margin and tries from Jack Adams, Iain Balshaw, Anthony Allen and James Simpson-Daniel.
Gloucester boss Dean Ryan added: “There were lots of opportunities where we should have won the game and we didn't. You can't blame the kicker,” he said.
“Our game management wasn't really good enough and we got pulled into a fragmented game which we didn't want.”
Saracens slid further out of the play-off zone – they are now sixth – after a 27-24 loss to Madejski Stadium hosts London Irish, who made it five successive Premiership wins.
Fly-half Glen Jackson missed a late penalty that would have tied the game, but Saracens rugby director Alan Gaffney delivered an upbeat verdict despite witnessing three league defeats in a row.
Gaffney said: “We didn't get a great start to the game, but there is no doubt we improved since last week against Harlequins.
“Some people won't like to hear me saying that, but there is no doubt we did.”
Saracens have scored just eight tries in their last six games, and with Irish full-back Peter Hewat booting 17 points, Ben Skirving and Kameli Ratuvou touchdowns were never going to be enough for the visitors.
Sailosi Tagicakibau and Gonzalo Tiesi scored tries for the home side, and coach Toby Booth claimed: “We came in at half-time in a one-point ball game, and to be honest it was quite astounding.
“We'd had the majority of quality possession at that stage, and it just seemed amazing that it was so close still.
“To be honest, it's probably through rose-tinted glasses, but if we had lost that game it would have been a travesty.”