When Billy Searle arrived from the French second division in the summer, few expected him to become one of the signings of the season.
The likes of Len Ikitau, Louis Rees-Zammit and Santi Carreras were this campaign’s big-name recruits but Searle’s impact is proving to be equally significant.
On a chilly Sunday afternoon in the Midlands, the 29-year-old fly-half cut Saracens’ star-studded team to pieces. He is offering more value-for-money than his South African predecessor, Handre Pollard, with his game management keeping Leicester in firm top-four contention.
In his post-match press conference, Geoff Parling praised the spirit and attitude of his players who are performing beyond expectations. They looked tough and organised, winning collisions from one to 15. The same could not be said for Mark McCall’s Saracens.
Leicester fielded a makeshift backline, without Solomone Kata and Izaia Perese, yet the likes of Will Wand and Orlando Bailey all delivered. Searle shipped the ball to space, winning the battle of the edges, where Adam Radwan scored twice. The fly-half kicked five from five as he cemented his status as the Prem’s sharpest goal-kicker.
‘We moved the ball well,’ said Parling. ‘Billy managed that really well. He came off with a broken nose that made him look like a true Tigers No 10. He’s grown and grown this season. When I signed him, people I spoke to at Agen said he was always confident to do something when then game was on the line.
‘It was Orlando Bailey’s best game for us, too. I’m just really proud of the heart and the effort we showed. That was a very good Sarries team. I looked beforehand and they were the bookies favourites. I’m very pleased with the five points.’
In the opposition coaching box, Owen Farrell sat amongst the Saracens management. They watched their players lose collisions in the opening quarter, as Leicester shot to a 14-0 lead.
‘You can’t turn up to this place and have the attitude that we had in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the match,’ said Saracens coach Mark McCall. ‘There’s only one team thar were really up for the physical battle. That’s not everybody but it doesn’t take very many to be off it with attitude for others to suffer. I just thought we were second best when it came to all the big physical things which are important in the first half.
‘We haven’t had back-to-back wins in the Premiership since rounds one and two. We’re not getting what we should out of a good group. As a team, we want to know what we’re going to get every week from each other the minute we don’t.’
Flanker Sam Williams marked Tom Willis closely on his first PREM start. performing above expectations. Welsh international Aaron Wainwright is set to sign for the club next season but Parling insisted he does not need to add too many recruits to his squad.
Freddie Steward looked every inch like England’s starting full-back, with Elliot Daly picking up a knock as the pair competed in the air. Daly played on but was sin-binned for a cheap shot on Searle as Leicester charged forwards with intent.
Saracens lost Jamie George to a head injury and their lineout was inconsistent. McCall’s side slipped to a 36-14 deficit, with Emeka Ilione making his first appearance since October from the bench, showing his turnover ability in the 22.