Following Leicester’s 32-29 victory over Saracens, here are our five key takeaways from the stunning Premiership clash at the StoneX Stadium.

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This was billed as a top-of-the-table conflict, and it certainly played out that way at a fun meeting at StoneX.

After a slow opening 10 minutes, Handre Pollard’s three-pointer gave the game some much-needed life and things snowballed from there.

Nick Tompkins crossed for the opening try of the day as he slotted an excellent brace over Tom Willis and went under the sticks. But they couldn’t stay ahead for very long. Leicester He hit a quick double with Ollie Hassell-Collins and Izaia Perese.

Saracens could not hold themselves back for long and regained the lead moments later. Juan Martin Gonzalez’s spectacular move broke through the Tigers’ defense and he went on to sign Tim Swiel, who returned to the club earlier this month.

Swiel returned another kick-off, but Leicester took the lead with a penalty try, which saw Alec Clarey sent to the sin bin.

The Tigers were at it again at the start of the second half as Julian Montoya pounced with a powerful strike to increase his side’s lead.

Leicester Tigers hold off Saracens’ spirited comeback to end StoneX’s hoodoo

Springbok Pollard added to his strike with another penalty, but this again resulted in Saracens getting back into the game. A quick attack from Gonzalez and James Hadfield brought Saracens back to within three points in the final stages.

But with the clock in the red, a crucial forward pass won Leicester the ball back and Pollard duly tapped the ball to send the visitors home with maximum points.

This latest victory moves Leicester to second place in the table and also makes it four wins on the spin.

Play-off quality is obvious

It is clear from this match that, despite the lack of England players, both sides will be well in contention for the top four; and this one had a serious playoff feel.

Despite the slow start, both sides reflected quality on both sides of the ball but also had the kind of intensity you’d expect from a semi-final. There was extra venom in every touch, there was extra gas in every attack, there was extra accuracy especially in the red zone, and overall there was an extra desire in everyone to get their team over the line.

It felt like a real indication of where the teams were at these early stages of the season, but more importantly, it felt like both teams wanted to set a marker for the rest of the league heading into the international break.

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We’re only six games into the season but it would take a brave person to bet on either side finishing in the top four.

Ruthless Leicester pack

The Tigers team was absolutely brutal in almost every aspect of StoneX. They dominated Saracens in attack and this played an important role in their dominance in the overall game. Nicky Smith was at the heart of it, giving a tremendous performance on set.

There was also great contact around the park. Offensively, their knack for mauling earned them a lot of change and directly helped them score 12 of the 32 points, with Montoya’s second-half goal and penalty kick at the end of the first half. Leicester’s red zone efficiency in other parts of the offense stems from the quality of their play in tight areas and especially their pick-and-go play.

Exeter’s dominant side of the 2016-2020 season adopted a very similar style when entering the opposition’s five-metre area, but Leicester made their own turn which put them over the line. Montoya, Nicky Smith and Olly Cracknell – to name a few – are serious operators in this area for the Tigers and were once again excellent at StoneX.

They also stood out in defense when necessary. Saracens Even if they didn’t win a bonus point towards the end, they could easily have scored more goals with the opportunities they created.

I’ve said this before but Leicester are certainly returning to the style of play that has made them so successful over the years, but they are now using it as a platform rather than the be-all and end-all. They ensure the development of their back line by using their solid foundations in stance and defence. This is very impressive and could take them further in the title race.

Perfect Tom Willis

How can he not be in the England squad? Despite the defeat, the Saracens eight were simply magnificent; and he has clearly channeled his England neglect into something positive for his club side.

He was imperious with the ball in his hands, leading the way with 23 shots to his name throughout his shift, and also achieved a mega 93m tally. Willis also hit the ground running defensively, making 10 steals and forcing a turnover in the process.

This is the latest in a long series of superb performances from the England one-man cap and his continued absence from the England squad raises some serious doubts.

You must feel that tonight’s show sends a message to Steve Borthwick.

international time

Apart from Willis, another forgotten man showed serious quality. Ollie Hassell-Collins He had seemingly been brushed aside by Borthwick but tonight was another reminder of his true attacking quality. He could also prove something to Warren Gatland…

Joe Heyes He was another player Borthwick overlooked in the Autumn Nations Series, but he put in a pretty impressive offensive display that caught his eye. As mentioned above, Leicester’s attack was very dominant throughout the game and Heyes was a crucial part of that, as was the Wales star. Nicky Smith.

Former Wallabies star perese He was brilliant in the win and had arguably his best game in a Tigers uniform. Welsh duo Tommy Refell And Olly Cracknell It was great for the Tigers too; Cracknell has proven that he is ready to take the next step when asked.

For homeowners, González He continued his superb Rugby Championship form with another great display for Saracens. He was at the heart of much of what his team did well, contributing with efforts and assists along the way. Tompkins Despite the defeat he was in top form and scored a good try in the first half.

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