In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes – and Leicester reaching the Premiership play-offs, which they have done for the 13th consecutive year despite a season of turmoil at Welford Road.
Three coaches have been sacked, including Richard Cockerill as director of rugby at the start of the year and Aaron Mauger as head coach three months later; key players such as the centres Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua, a summer marquee signing, and the prop Marcos Ayerza have missed virtually all of the season through injury; and chastening defeats have been suffered, mainly away, although Glasgow won 43-0 at Welford Road in January.
Yet Leicester are preparing for a play-off semi-final. The Tigers finished a distant fourth in the table and took two points in six matches off the leading trio, but Wasps will be assuming nothing at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday in what is now a Midlands derby.
“It has been pretty traumatic,” says Geordan Murphy, now head coach and who in his 20 years at Welford Road has not experienced a campaign like it. “You could say it has had its ups and downs, but all credit to the playing group who have shown resilience and spirit to get to this stage.
“We know how tough the game against Wasps will be, but we have nothing to lose. It was not that long ago that everyone was predicting our demise, but here we are again. We are really excited by what lies ahead.”
One of Leicester’s better away performances against a leading club came in Coventry a few days after Cockerill had received a vote of no confidence. It was Mauger’s first match in charge and after conceding three early tries the Tigers rallied and were pressing for victory at the end.
“We gave Wasps too much respect,” says Murphy, who appeared in seven Premiership finals for Leicester. “In the end, only a foot in touch prevented us from winning and while we know it will be a big ask on Saturday against a very good side who have threats across the board, we have a lot of quality in our squad.”
Leicester were at their most dangerous this season after a big defeat. One week after losing 38-0 to Munster in Limerick in the Champions Cup, they won the return through sheer bloody-mindedness and will. They have been characteristics of Leicester through the ages, a club that misfortune cannot topple. If an earthquake struck the city, Welford Road would remain standing.
“This club has always been about working very hard and fighting for everything,” says Murphy. “It is about fronting up and giving your every last scrap. We have done it the hard way this season and we have had nine world-class players injured for long periods. It has tested our squad.
“Manu has been really unlucky again having fought his way back from a long-standing groin problem, but he is hungry to play again and it will be like having a new player next season.”
Leicester will be led at Wasps by Tom Youngs, whose wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness this month. His brother Ben, the club’s scrum-half, pulled out of the Lions tour to New Zealand to offer support through the summer. Murphy says: “They will both play. Tom is raring to go and his personal situation has made him even more of a legend to his team-mates. It is a Midlands derby but, as someone used to playing Wasps near London, it does not feel like one yet.
“Our supporters will not have far to travel and they always back the team all the way. The players want to front up and do the job for them. Everyone on the outside will assume that Wasps will win and we know that we will have to be at our best, but we have been here before.”
