Leicester v Bath: Five takeaways as Welshman leads ‘borderline violence’ in Tigers’ ‘brutal, brilliant, and bewildering’ PREM Rugby victory
Leicester Tigers star Ollie Chessum and an inset of Bath's Finn Russell.
Following Leicester Tigers’ 22-20 victory over Bath at Welford Road, here are our five takeaways from the PREM Rugby clash.
The Top Line: A Rivalry Reignited in Chaos and Class
In a fixture that has defined PREM Rugby soul for three decades, Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby delivered a contest that was equal parts brutal, brilliant, and bewildering as Billy Searle swung a last-gasp boot to kick Bath back down the M4 after a thrilling afternoon. Tigers edged it 22-20, but the scoreline barely scratches the surface of a game that swung on moments of genius and madness.
The opening try was pure Argentinian pulse, Santiago Carreras hacked through, Adam Radwan failed to field cleanly, Carreras regathered, and Dan Frost finished. It was a statement of intent. Bath’s second came from a sweeping move involving Carreras, Henry Arundell, and Frost again, with Sam Underhill finishing from close range. Their third, arguably the pick of the bunch, saw Finn Russell and Cameron Redpath punish a loose Radwan kick, Arundell scorched the left edge, and Redpath’s outrageous dummy sealed the score.
Leicester, with James O’Connor driving things from ten, fought with old-school bite. Their back row, Hanro Liebenberg, Olly Cracknell, and Tommy Reffell, combined with Joe Woodward and Solomone Kata to punch direct lines and keep Bath honest. Reffell’s try was a reward for scrum dominance, but irony reigned as Nicky Smith, so dominant early, conceded the penalty that let Bath edge ahead, just as Thomas du Toit turned the tide- but with equal irony, it was Du Toit’s late transgression that handed Billy Searle the chance to win it. He did.
Scrums, and Shifts in Momentum
Bath’s early dominance came from aerial control and tempo. Ben Spencer and Russell kicked to retain, ran from aerial wins, and kept the Tigers chasing shadows. Carreras was central to two tries, Frost finished both, but his scrummaging was exposed—Joe Heyes and Smith won four penalties and three free kicks at the set piece.
Bath held up Leicester’s maul twice on the goal line, with Alfie Barbeary performing miracles behind a retreating scrum. Yet discipline nearly cost them; five penalties in the first ten minutes of the second half gave Tigers field position and momentum. The Bath Bombs, Du Toit, Francois van Wyk, and Miles Reid, almost stemmed the tide, but Du Toit’s late transgression handed Billy Searle the chance to win it and to break Bath’s hearts.
For Tigers, Radwan’s footwork was electric at times, but his loose kick led to Bath’s third. Chessum and Heyes were immense, and Tigers’ directness nearly stole it. Bath’s new generation, Carreras, Arundell, and Frost are raw but potent. Tigers, meanwhile, are rediscovering their bite, and that started, as is traditional right up front.
Tigers Find Their Scrum Teeth as Bath Buckle at the Set Piece
Leicester Tigers will be thanking their front rowers- who, to a man will be reminding anyone prepared to listen they won the battle where it matters most to their DNA; up front, in the scrum, an age-old feature of Tigers rugby.
Smith, the Welsh loosehead, delivered a performance that will be replayed in coaching rooms across the country, dismantling Bath’s set piece with a level of control and aggression that bordered on violence and grabbing a key second-half try to seal a high-quality outing. Four penalties and three free kicks came Leicester’s way at scrum time, all earned through sheer dominance, and all inflicted upon a Bath front row that included British Lion Will Stuart, who found himself retreating more often than advancing.
Bath’s struggles at the coalface were compounded by a lack of cohesion, and whilst Dan Frost’s early try gave the illusion of impact, his influence in the tight was questionable. The hooker’s connection with his props never settled, and Tigers sensed blood, with Smith and Heyes pincering in all afternoon,
Where Bath had control through the measured tempo of Russell and Spencer, Leicester countered with a throwback brand of rugby, direct, uncompromising, and effective enough to keep them with a foothold of sorts in the match. The back row trio of Liebenberg, Reffell, and Cracknell combined with the hard-running centres Woodward and Kata to punch holes and keep Bath scrambling. It was old-school Tigers, and it worked.
England EPS: Selection Looms as Back Row Battle Intensifies
As Steve Borthwick prepares to name his updated England Elite Player Squad on Monday, the Premiership clash between Leicester and Bath has thrown several names into sharp focus. The back row remains England’s most congested corridor, and the impressive performances from Bath’s Underhill and Barbearry today only deepen the debate.
Underhill, fresh from a dominant summer tour and a try against Leicester, continues to remind selectors of his defensive mastery and breakdown speed. Yet Barbeary, though uncapped, offers a hybrid threat, all-carrying, offloading presence that England may need to unlock tighter contests. The question is not who’s good enough, but who fits the tactical balance.
Bath’s Spencer was again outstanding, dictating tempo and kicking with precision. His control contrasts sharply with Leicester’s more chaotic half-back pairing, and with England always looking for long-term depth at nine, Spencer’s name deserves to be inked in alongside the always outstanding Alex Mitchell.
For Leicester, Heyes continues to grow into a Test-level tighthead, scrummaging with authority and showing mobility in the loose. Ollie Chessum, fresh off Lions duty, remains England’s most versatile forward, as he delivered a commanding display, able to slot in at lock or blindside with equal impact.
And then there’s Radwan. His footwork, acceleration, and finishing instincts are electric and there’s little doubt England needs game-breakers. Radwan is one and it will be interesting to see if Steve Borthwick is prepared to back his game-breaking pace in the search for more of an attacking edge.
Arundell, meanwhile, may have something to say about that. He could very well be England’s most explosive back-three option. His metres-per-carry stats lead the league, and his ability to finish from broken play is unmatched. He must be involved.
Lewis Moody: A Tribute at Welford Road
Today, Welford Road paid homage to one of its fiercest and finest sons.
Lewis Moody, “Mad Dog” to teammates and fans, returned to Leicester Tigers for a moving half-time tribute, just days after revealing his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease. The applause was thunderous, the emotion raw.
Moody’s career is etched into rugby folklore. He won 71 caps for England, captaining his country 12 times, and was a pivotal figure in the 2003 World Cup-winning squad, famously claiming the lineout that led to Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal. He toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2005, and domestically, he was a titan: seven Premiership titles and two European Cups with Leicester Tigers, where he debuted at just 18 years and 94 days.
His move to Bath in 2010 brought leadership and grit, culminating in his England captaincy during the 2011 Six Nations. Though his time at Bath was shorter, his impact was profound; Moody never gave less than everything.
Today’s tribute united both clubs in respect. Leicester honoured their warrior, Bath their leader. Fans stood not just for his achievements, but for his character: fearless, selfless, and relentlessly committed.
Moody’s foundation work and ambassadorial roles post-retirement have only deepened his legacy. Now, facing MND, he does so with the same courage that defined his playing days.
As he said today, “I’m returning to my rugby home.”
And in that moment, it was clear, Lewis Moody doesn’t just belong to Leicester or Bath.
He belongs to rugby.
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