Leicester winger Lote Tuqiri races in to score on of his two tries against Wasps © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: Leicester Tigers 34 - 8 Wasps

Players/Officials: Danny Cipriani | Toby Flood | Martin Johnson | Lote Tuqiri

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: England | Leicester Tigers | Wasps

Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill was full of praise for his side after they over-powered London Wasps 34-8 at Welford Road to climb to the top of the Guinness Premiership table.

The hosts trailed 8-3 shortly before half-time before sweeping their rivals aside in a four-try burst with Australian winger Lote Tuqiri grabbing a brace - his first Premiership tries since joining the club.

Despite a slow start, Leicester crushed Wasps, particularly in the scrum and rugby director Cockerill praised Dan Cole before quashing talk of an England call-up for the tight-head prop.

"I am so proud because we've beaten a very fine team after working so hard all week to get the game on," said Cockerill. "On average we do 15-20 scrums a week, but I've played in France and we have some Argentine guys here so our scrummaging experience is good.

"The scrum has been the foundation of our recent victories and young Dan Cole has played his part. He is a local lad who wants to play for his local club and I don't want him getting bogged down in talk of England. Dan is only 22 and has lots to learn. But he is playing well, and it's up to the England coaches. Graham Rowntree is a very good coach and you have to leave that up to them."

Tuqiri was thrilled to break his try-scoring duck, but was quick to acknowledge the work of the forwards. "Playing behind a pack like ours is sensational, and it was tremendous to get the tries after being here for seven weeks," he said. "This is one great club and I'm already having a good time, even with this weather."

While Wasps rugby director Tony Hanks was happy with Danny Cipriani's contribution, he believes the England international was culpable for the loss after spurning a kick which could have extended the visitors' lead to eight points prior to the interval.

"I was pleased with Danny Cipriani's performance at fly-half," said Hanks. "He is back to good form, and while it was a bit ambitious not taking that penalty in the first half when we led 8-3, that is now the reason we go home empty handed."

Hanks also admitted his side needed to improve in the scrum. "We didn't take a couple of penalties when we should, then we lost Tim Payne to the bin and that set us back. Scrums are hugely important, and you have to be on your mettle there. We'll go away and work very hard on that area.

"We've got a few injuries and a few guys to come back, but we also need to get working on our scrummage in the coming weeks. You learn and improve by playing, not just working on the scrum machine."

Hanks added, "Simon Shaw suffered a hyper-expansion of the knee so we took him off as a precaution."

Leicester chairman Peter Tom also saluted the "incredible team effort" which allowed the match to go ahead while the rest of the Premiership schedule was cancelled due to the cold snap.

"Today's game would not be going ahead if it was not for a tremendous amount of work and help from Caterpillar, Aggregate Industries, Leicester City Council, Stadia and Sports Services, the groundstaff and many other volunteers who I would like to thank on behalf of everyone at the club. This club's major successes have always been achieved through commitment and teamwork, and that has shone through in the determination to get today's game on.

The Welford Road pitch remained under cover all week and hot-air blowers were used under a protective balloon to keep the frost out of the playing surface. Then 24 tonnes of snow were removed from the top of the covers in midweek before a workforce, including volunteers from local club Oadby Wyggestonians RFC, helped clear the terraces and stands after an overnight snowfall.