Boss Dan McKellar stated Leicester Tigers weren’t “in must-win territory” for his or her East Midlands derby, however admitted victory in opposition to Northampton was wanted after a sluggish begin to the season.
That they had began the day second from backside and 10 factors adrift of Saints, after only one win in 5 matches.
“We simply needed to grind out a win,” McKellar advised BBC Radio Leicester.
“You should win. And when one from 5, we weren’t pleased with that.
“I do not assume it was in must-win territory, nevertheless it’s Tigers versus Saints in a derby sport at Mattioli Woods Welford Street, you do not need to lose them no matter the place you might be within the desk,” he added.
World Cup-winning South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard booted 16 factors, whereas Francois van Wyk and Hanro Liebenberg grabbed essential second-half tries as Tigers ended Saints’ three-game successful run.
Victory got here per week after Pollard joined a half-a-dozen Tigers team-mates in returning to membership duties after the World Cup – with Pollard’s Springboks team-mate Jasper Wiese, and England’s Ben Youngs, Ollie Chessum and Freddie Steward all beginning, whereas Dan Cole got here off the bench.
‘Chip away’
Requested if the derby victory, with a bolstered aspect of World Cup gamers, felt like a platform for Tigers to construct on, McKellar stated: “It actually does.
“We go to Gloucester subsequent week and it is one other necessary sport, one other emotional sport for each golf equipment with the Ed Slater Cup.
“I do know the gamers will definitely stand up for that on each groups. You simply must chip away and get your wins off the again of excellent preparation over the course of the week.”
McKellar spoke extremely of the affect of Tigers’ “world class” half-backs Youngs and Pollard, and the “highly effective” affect Cole made off the bench within the second half, however with exhausting World Cup campaigns simply behind them the Australian has the Tigers’ ambitions and his stars’ wellbeing to juggle.
In what’s a shortened Premiership marketing campaign in comparison with earlier years – on account of three top-flight golf equipment going bust up to now 12 months, decreasing the competitors to a 10-team league – Tigers discover themselves eighth within the desk with a 3rd of the season already performed.
“That they had per week off instantly post-World Cup, so we’ll see,” McKellar advised BBC Sport.
“In case your squad is wholesome, then you will have the flexibility to rotate and never disrupt an excessive amount of. That can come. It is a lengthy season – the finals are in the course of June, so we will not count on the identical guys to roll out week after week.
“We’re in place the place we’re constructing cohesion throughout the group.
“We’re not going to make mass modifications from one week to the subsequent, that’s for certain.
“In sure positions, the place we’ve got unbelievable depth and high quality, we’ll look to make these change. At 10 we’ve got received Jamie Shillcock, Charlie Atkinson, Kieran Wilkinson, we’ve got actual depth in that place, so we’ll give Polly [Pollard] a spell on the proper time.”