Exiles attempt to tame the Tigers

Exiles will travel to Welford Road on Friday with their tails up – after a valuable victory against Wasps last weekend – to face Leicester Tigers in the opening fixture of Round 12.

Leicester came out on the losing side in the previous round after facing Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate. It was by no means an attractive display of rugby as Bristol slowly ground out the victory in a game in which both sides lacked fluidity.

Exiles made their intentions firmly known from the first minute of their encounter against Wasps as they hit the ground running with great fighting spirit. There were 35 minutes on the clock before Wasps first tasted the lead through a Tom Willis try, but Exiles, with their two penalties on the board, showed more teeth in the second half, adding another 10 points to their tally through an Ollie Hassell-Collins try and another penalty.

Irish are slowly creeping up the ladder and now find themselves in 6^th spot. Leicester find themselves on the bottom half of the log, their 4 victories from 11 outings has earning them 9^th position.

Round 2 was the last time these sides clashed, that game ending with Exiles on top, 22-9 – a result that Leicester will be keen to avenge.