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Ellis Genge proves himself England captain material as Leicester fight back to defeat Connacht

Ellis Genge of Leicester Tigers after his side's victory in the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B match between Connacht and Leicester Tigers at The Sportsground in Galway. - GETTY IMAGES
Ellis Genge of Leicester Tigers after his side's victory in the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B match between Connacht and Leicester Tigers at The Sportsground in Galway. - GETTY IMAGES

When it comes to captaincy, the adage that is repeatedly trotted out by coaches and players is leading by example. And the reason why it has almost become a mantra in rugby is because it is true. Ellis Genge was the very embodiment of this as Leicester nicked their 28-29 win over Connacht in the last play of the game.

Although replacement wing Hosea Saumaki scored the try that won the match for Leicester, having been 18 points down after 50 minutes, Genge was key to victoryy with 13 carries for an impressive 51 metres. He also beat eight defenders, not something every prop can do, and even fit in an offload.

It was the sort of performance that lifted all those around him and shows why Leicester have had such an excellent season thus far. Speaking last week he explained his philosophy to leadership: “Imagine being at war and all your troops are ready to die. That’s what it’s like, that’s what our pack’s about.”

He may be off to his hometown club of Bristol next season, but such is his desire to win and his professionalism as a captain you wouldn’t think that he was due to change clubs. For all these reasons that is why the 26-year-old is an England captain in waiting.

With the Six Nations kicking-off in less than three weeks, this is peak time for speculation around not just the England squad selection – which Genge is sure to be included in - but also the captaincy question too with Owen Farrell still out through injury.

Courtney Lawes – a quiet man who is in the mould of a 'lead by example captain' - did an impressive job deputising for Farrell, including leading Eddie Jones’s men to a win over the World Champion Springboks in November. Despite some external chatter, Farrell remains a totemic captain and will lead the side when fit.

But with the next World Cup less than two years away, England need to try out different leadership options and Genge showed his credentials by steering his side from such a perilous deficit to a place in the last-16 of the Champions Cup – the club competition that comes closest to Test levels of intensity. He must be considered a leading contender. And if England are to succeed both in the Six Nations and in the coming years, Genge’s attitude of bring willing to lay everything down for the troops around him will be needed.

Report: Connacht 28 Leicester Tigers 29

The booing that echoed through Galway’s Sportsground and the angry reaction of British and Irish Lions centre Bundee Aki towards referee Mathieu Raynal summed up how every Connacht player and fan was feeling as Leicester snatched a last-gasp win. Hosea Saumaki's late try guaranteeed Leicester a spot in the last-16 of the Champions Cup.

Despite the reaction from the locals, the try which was scored with just seconds left on the clock was perfectly legal – there had been a question as to whether the Tongan replacement’s foot had been in touch, but all was as should be. Leicester will march on in Europe with a pool game left to play after their winning margin of just one point.

Hosea Saumaki of Leicester Tigers reacts after scoring a last minute try, which was confirmed after going to the TMO, during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B match between Connacht and Leicester Tigers at The Sportsground in Galway. - GETTY IMAGES
Hosea Saumaki of Leicester Tigers reacts after scoring a last minute try, which was confirmed after going to the TMO, during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B match between Connacht and Leicester Tigers at The Sportsground in Galway. - GETTY IMAGES

Steve Borthwick praised his side's character after they rescued the 29-28 victory over Connacht.

The Premiership leaders trailed 28-10 midway through the second half but Kini Murimurivalu's second try and further scores from replacements Charlie Clare and Saumaki nicked the match.

"Delighted, obviously, with the win and really pleased with the players," admitted Borthwick, whose side bounced back from losing for the first time this season to Wasps last Sunday.

"We might not have scored at the end but either way, I would have been proud and I would have thanked the players for their efforts.

"The period in the middle, Connacht controlled. I thought Connacht were superb through that period.

"They put us under immense pressure and we conceded too many penalties, but the reason we conceded the penalties was because of the pressure Connacht put on us.

"From our point of view, this will be a great experience for us. I think coming and playing rugby here is unique. A special mention to the Connacht supporters."

Leicester celebrate their winning try - GETTY IMAGES
Leicester celebrate their winning try - GETTY IMAGES

Connacht were crestfallen as they were banking on a win to take them to the Champions Cup knock-out rounds for the first time ever. They may be perceived as the poor relation of the Irish provinces compared with Leinster, Munster and Ulster but they still have an impressive selection of homegrown internationals to choose from.

Kiwi-born import Aki may be the star name, and caused real trouble for the Leicester defence, but the province has plenty of quality players such a fly-half Jack Carty, full-back Tiernan O’Halloran, prop Finley Bealham and scrum-half Kieran Marmion. They may come and go out of fashion at the international set up, but those key players provide Connacht with a wily core that was more than able for the Premiership table toppers and almost condemned them to just their second loss of the season.

Leicester started the game as their domestic form had dictated and controlled the opening 10 minutes of the game allowing prop Joe Heyes to score after just three minutes. That was soon followed by a Murimurivalu try. Burns failed to convert, however.

Kini Murimurivalu of Leicester Tigers is congratulated by teammate Matt Scott after scoring their side's second try despite the tackle of Tiernan OHalloran of Connacht during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B match between Connacht and Leicester Tigers at The Sportsground in Galway. - GETTY IMAGES
Kini Murimurivalu of Leicester Tigers is congratulated by teammate Matt Scott after scoring their side's second try despite the tackle of Tiernan OHalloran of Connacht during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool B match between Connacht and Leicester Tigers at The Sportsground in Galway. - GETTY IMAGES

It looked like Connacht would be limp in defence but, at 16 minutes, they were back in the game after O’Halloran sucked in the Tigers defence. Leicester’s lineout also began to malfunction, granting the Irish side territory. A fabulous offload from Aki showing his international and Lions class to set up blindside Cian Prendergast to score and with both tries successfully converted by Carty. The fly-half ensured his side were ahead 14-10 going into the interval.

When Leicester back row Tommy Reffell was sent to sin bin and Connacht quickly capitalised from the resulting penalty with Marmion sniping off the back of a maul to score, it looked like the Tigers could be losing their bite.

A further O’Halloran try while Leicester were still down to 14 men secured the bonus-point as the hosts went 28-10 ahead.

However, Leicester captain Ellis Genge gave his side a stern talking to and Jasper Wiese’s tireless work on the ground helped to inspire those around them. From then on it was resistance with Murimurivalu completing a brace at 55 minutes. A try from replacement hooker Clare with a Burns conversion took Leicester back to just four points behind with seven minutes left on the clock and Saumaki stole the match at the death.

Match details

Scoring: 0-5 Heyes try; 0-10 Murimurivalu try; 5-10 O’Halloran try, 7-10 Carty con; 12-10 Prendergast try; 14-10 Carty con; 19-10 Marmion try; 21-10 Carty con; 26-10 O’Halloran try, 28-10 Carty con; 28-15 Murimurivalu try; 28-17 Burns con; 28-22 Clare try; 28-24 Burns con; 28-29 Saumaki try.

Connacht: T O'Halloran, J Porch, S Arnold, B Aki, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion (C Blade 62); M Burke (T Tuimauga 62), S Delahunt (D Heffernan 47), F Bealham (J Aungier 49), O Dowling (U Dillane 56), N Murray, C Prendergast, C Oliver, J Butler (P Boyle, 62).

Leicester Tigers: B Hegarty, F Steward, M Scott, JP Socino (D Kelly 47), K Murimurivalu, F Burns, R Wigglesworth (J van Poortvliet 58), E Genge (J Whitcombe), N Dolly (C Clare 47), J Heyes (N Leatigaga 69), H Wells, C Green, O Chessum, T Reffell, J Wiese.

Yellow card: T Reffell 43-53

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Attendance: 3,064