Cockerill issues Northampton Saints warning

Leicester Tigers coach has warned his players that they will have to be on their game when they face Northampton Saints in the Premiership play off next weekend.

Leicester were in trouble at 23-8 behind with 15 minutes left but replacement wing Horacio Agulla started their fightback by sprinting over for a fine try.

Then, three minutes later, centre Anthony Allen scored a try converted by England’s Toby Flood that left the Tigers just three points behind.

Test forward Tom Croft then gave Leicester the lead before Alesana Tuilagi, the Premiership’s top try scorer, to wrap up the comeback by outpacing the cover defence on the left to score his 12th try of the campaign, with Flood adding the conversion.

But Leicester coach Richard Cockerill warned his side they could not afford to give Northampton such a head start.

“We dominated possession but we were a bit loose with that possession at times, and we won’t get away with that next week. “said Cockerill.

“If you give Saints a 15-point lead then you’re unlikely to claw it back.”