Leicester Tigers' Tom Croft looks so at home on big stage
Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft did his ever-growing reputation no harm at all with another outstanding display for the British & Irish Lions in Pretoria on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who was called into the squad as a late replacement for the banned Alan Quinlan, started his second consecutive Test for Ian McGeechan's men.
-
Tom Croft
The Lions lost a thrilling game 28-25 but Croft was outstanding in the loose where the tourists were on top for much of the time.
It has been a tremendous tour for the Leicester man, who has made a huge name for himself and will now be viewed as one of the top loose forwards in world rugby.
His Tigers team-mate Harry Ellis remained on the bench for the duration of the Test as Welshman Mike Phillips stayed on for the full 80 minutes.
He was one of several players who left the pitch looking distraught after the Lions lost the series to the last kick of the game as Morne Steyn's 53-metre penalty gave the world champions the series 2-0.
Comments
by Richard Walker, Welford
Monday, June 29 2009, 1:01PM
“In their late defensive efforts the team management got it completely wrong. When they had to replace Roberts and O'Driscoll they should have brought Harry on at 9 and moved the big lump Phillips into the centres where he would have worked quite adequately as a 'stopper'. Instead they brought on that renowned defensive rock O'Gara! In fact they could have put Harry out on the wing and they'd have been more secure than they were. A poor decision and a poor effort from the Irishman undermined all the hard work of Croft, Shaw, Wallace and Carney amongst others who were all superb and deserved better.”