Harry Thacker says he would not have broken Leicester hearts had they played him more often.
For the second time this season the Bristol hooker cast himself in the role of Tiger tamer with the late try which plunged his former club back into relegation strife.
Thacker, who also scored twice to beat Leicester in December, quit Welford Road last summer after 43 appearances in five seasons.
This term he has played in all but one of Bristol’s league games and he admitted: “My game has come on a lot, just playing week-in, week-out. The only way you are going to learn is by playing.
Harry Thacker returns to Leicester to plunge Tigers back into relegation strife
“Leaving Leicester was a tough decision but I just wanted to play rugby. I had had a season, maybe three of four years ago now, when I played a lot and I saw my game improve - just by playing week-in, week-out.
“I found I was stagnating a little bit, just getting a game here and there so I gave it one last year and tried to push for it, but it wasn’t happening so for me at the end of it, it was a no-brainer.
“I wanted to go and play some rugby and Bristol offered me that. I haven’t looked back since.”
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Bristol boss Pat Lam, who has done an incredible job not only securing Bears’ Premiership status in their first year back in the top flight but pushing for a top-six finish, likened Thacker to All Black hookers Dane Coles and Codie Taylor.
“Harry’s a special player,” he said of the 5’9 pocket rocket. “There’s not many like him. I’m a big believer that if you’re good enough you’re big enough.”
Bristol have not had a campaign like this since they finished third in the 2006/07 season and had never previously won a Premiership game at Leicester.
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But from the moment they were promoted Lam targeted not survival but qualifying for Europe. His ambition has rubbed off on his players.
Whilst Leicester, England’s biggest club, have two games left to secure the two points which will kill off any fears of a first ever relegation, Bristol are three points outside the top six and a place in next season’s Champions Cup.
“One hundred per cent we believe we can do it, we have believed that from the get-go,” said Thacker. “We said it from the start that top six was a realistic goal.”
LEICESTER - Try: Olowofela. Pens: Ford 5.
BRISTOL - Tries: Sheedy, Thomas, Thacker. Con: Madigan. Pens: Sheedy 2.
