Michael Cheika’s tenure at Leicester may only be six matches old, but a victory like this suggests their supporters can start dreaming again. They went toe-to-toe with Saracens, the team that has set the pace in the Premiership this season, and showcased the trademark stubbornness of any Cheika side in abundance. Both teams scored four tries, and while the hosts were missing seven players on England duty, the Tigers were without five for the same reason. This made for a thrilling encounter, devoid of star English names but rich in excitement and action.

For Leicester, the Australian outside centre Izaia Perese was exceptional, while Anthony Watson demonstrated his class on the right wing. The collective effort from the forwards would have delighted Cheika. For Saracens, Tom Willis has seemingly intensified his efforts after his England snub. He did not deserve to end up on the losing side, but it’s possible these two teams could meet again at the season’s climax.

The Tigers are second in the table and have won five of their first six matches this season, with the Premiership now on hold for a month due to the autumn internationals. If their one defeat, against Bath at home, was disappointing, the Tigers can take pride in their 5-1 record, which is matched only by Bath.

The match started scrappily, unsurprising given Saracens’ pre-match injuries that ruled out Alex Goode and Marco Riccioni. With Fergus Burke also missing, Saracens were down to the bare bones, necessitating a start for Tim Swiel, who joined the club this week as short-term cover. Leicester opened the scoring with a straightforward penalty from Handrè Pollard, but it was Saracens who scored the first try, finished by Nick Tompkins but set up by Willis’s powerful ball-carrying.

The response was swift. A clever grubber from Leicester’s Joe Woodward was perfectly measured for Ollie Hassell-Collins to gather and score, followed by Perese’s try on the left after excellent work by Watson. Saracens responded to draw within a point when Swiel assisted Juan Martín González, whose celebration before scoring showed his enjoyment. However, Leicester took the lead into halftime with a penalty try, with Saracens’ Alec Clarey receiving a yellow card.

The Tigers extended their lead soon after the break when their captain, Julián Montoya, scored from a driving maul, with Perese making the initial breakthrough. Both sides had disallowed tries, and another Pollard penalty left Saracens needing three scores with a quarter of the match remaining, which became two when González scored from close range.

Willis again provided the assist with a powerful run through Leicester’s defence. With nine minutes left, the replacement hooker, James Hadfield, scored from a driving maul, but Leicester’s defence held firm, ensuring Saracens suffered their first home defeat of the season.

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