Why Leicester Tigers were ‘very calm’ in build-up to feisty PREM derby as Geoff Parling savours ‘special’ moment
Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling reacts to their PREM win over Northampton Saints.
Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling was quick to keep his troop’s feet on the ground despite savouring a “special” victory over Northampton Saints on Saturday.
Parling was speaking after the East Midlands derby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road that saw Leicester run out 41-17 winners and close the gap on Saints to five points.
Tries from George Martin, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Jamie Blamire (2), Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward saw the Tigers to a superb triumph, their 11th in 15 PREM games.
Calm build-up
It was a pulsating and hot-tempered derby fixture between the two local rivals, and Parling was asked if Leicester‘s training leading up to the match was equally intense.
“No, we were actually very calm during the week,” he explained to the media as the ex-England second-row insists that his players easily lift themselves for these games.
He added: “We know when it is these big derby matches at home, then the lads are going to get up for it, so we were quite tactical during the week with our preparations.”
With three rounds of the regular season to play, Saturday’s excellent victory puts Leicester in a strong position as they look to secure one of the top two spots on the table.
Parling is now demanding more from his troops in the season run-in despite being pleased with how they played against a Northampton side sitting atop the standings.
“Yes but we could still do some things better as well,” he said.
“We love playing at home, we love playing here. The changing room after a game like today is what you do this for – when you see the players in the changing room afterwards, they are special, special moments but it’s just one game.
“We know what’s ahead of us.”
Three games left
Leicester’s form this season, especially at home, has been hugely impressive but Parling insists that they have to continue to be at their best if they want to keep winning.
“We don’t think about it – we didn’t want to add more emotion to the fixture because I knew that would be there anyway,” he said.
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“We know what is ahead of us. We’ve got three really important games left in the regular season, starting with Sale away next week.
“We’ll have two days to recover now and we’ll come back in on Tuesday and train like we know we can.”