Writing for the Times Online, Stuart Barnes highlights the importance of the return of Toby Flood to Leicester ahead of this weekend's clash with London Wasps.
"The two giants of English club rugby have been lurking menacingly around the borderline of the play-offs most of the season.
"Wasps made the better start, which was all the more noticeable for their woes of the previous season. As for the Tigers, they have been ravaged by injury on an industrial scale but have managed to scrap and scramble their way to a position from which push for the play-offs and the defence of their title looks eminently doable.
"Sheer cussedness, pride and a pack of Tigers has been the strength of Leicester’s weakened team – until last week against Leeds when a different breed entirely took the field against their old hero Neil Back’s side.
"What a difference alignment makes. Jeremy Staunton is a deep lying fly-half from the school of rugby boredom, He is rarely touched by opposing flankers, so far does he position himself from the forwards, nor does he ever (well, hardly ever) unleash his midfield across the gain line and his forwards charging on the front foot.
"The net result has been the rule of the boot. Leicester has been reliant upon penalties as it abstained from the more tricky matter of try scoring. In their first eight matches of the season Leicester scored just five tries. Against Leeds they scored as many in forty minutes.
"Toby Flood made his belated Premiership start and the Tigers found their cutting edge.”
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