Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill revels in “stardust’ quality of former England No10 Freddie Burns
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill hailed the “stardust” quality of Freddie Burns after the former England No10 stoked the Tigers’ 27-17 European Champions Cup victory over Racing 92.
Burns, a second-half replacement for Owen Williams, racked up 16 points, including an interception try, as Leicester recovered from their opening round thrashing by Glasgow Warriors by beating last season’s beaten Champions Cup finalists.
A losing bonus point looked in sight for the French outfit after Argentine wing Juan Imhoff crossed the line to add to an earlier try from ex-New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter, although a Burns penalty put paid to that.
“We know Freddie has got some stardust about him,” said Cockerill. “You take the risk with the intercept, and if it comes off, you are okay.
“Freddie is a very good footballer and he read it very well. Everything went right for him tonight and I am delighted for him. Freddie is up for the challenge. If he is in the limelight, he is happy.”
Victory boosted Leicester’s hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals and the Welford Road club sit third in Pool One, a point behind leaders Munster, who have a game in hand, and Glasgow.
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young, meanwhile, insisted he never doubted the accuracy of full-back Jimmy Gopperth after he kicked a last-gasp conversion to rescue a 20-20 draw for the Midlands club in Toulouse.
Young, whose side’s tries were scored by Josh Bassett and Nathan Hughes, said: “In tight games – and these are always going to be tight games – you need a kicker of quality and my money’s on Jimmy when it comes to those big kicks.”