Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Youngs up for crunch Saints tie
Leicester Tigers v Northampton 3pm
BEN YOUNGS goes into his “favourite fixture of the year” insisting Leicester are rediscovering their bite after playing like pussy cats for too long.
England scrum-half Youngs lines up against Northampton Saints with Leicester on their best home run since 2016.
Tigers have won six on the trot at Welford Road and after years of decline are heading in the right direction under boss Steve Borthwick. Youngs said: “To think Steve’s nearly been here 12 months now, from where we were to where we are now, it’s chalk and cheese. We are working towards where we want to be and we’re fully aware that we’re not there yet – but we have got a clear vision of how we get there.”
Leicester trail fifth-placed Saints by eight points but need no added motivation against their arch-rivals.
“There are certain games where tactics can slightly go out of the window,” said Youngs. “This one means a lot to not only the fans. I grew up watching it.”
Danny Care becomes only the third Harlequin to play 300 times for the club when he starts at London Irish today.
He follows Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown as resurgent Quins look to cement their top-four Premiership spot.
Sam Simmonds turned on the style for Lions boss Warren Gatland as Exeter beat Bristol 20-12 last night.
Six months after winning the Champions Cup final at Ashton Gate, Chiefs headed back up the M5 to cut down the Premiership leaders.
Sam Skinner, Tom O’flaherty and Jacques Vermeulen grabbed the tries for the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Saracens face a crunch match against Championship leaders
Ealing tomorrow with Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Elliot
Daly, Jamie George and the Vunipola brothers starting.