Dan Cole more appreciative of Premiership Final appearance after barren Leicester run

Dan Cole can recall a time when it was “automatic” for Leicester Tigers to reach the Gallagher Premiership play-offs and final.

But the fact their last Twickenham appearance in English rugby’s showpiece domestic occasion was nine years ago has brought a level of appreciation to Saturday’s final against Saracens.

When England prop Cole made his Tigers debut almost 15 years ago, they were a dominant force.

Leicester reached nine successive Premiership finals from 2005 to 2013, with Cole three times a title winner.

But the likes of Saracens and Exeter then surged past them as Tigers found themselves twice flirting with relegation, rather than challenging for silverware, during recent campaigns.

“When I first came into the side, we were on five finals on the bounce and it was an automatic we would get to the play-offs and be in the final,” Cole said.

“Leicester reached nine in a row, and even though you won or lost, it was always ‘we have next year’.

“Then that stopped, and you go nine years without reaching one and you learn to appreciate it.

“You learn how hard it is to win one and how fortunate you are to play in a side that wins week in, week out.

“Now, we are turning things around, but you understand how hard it is to win. Two or three years ago we could barely win a game for love nor money.”

Cole has vivid memories of the Premiership pain-game, recalling how the 2018-19 season unfolded, with Leicester finishing 11th, having beaten Newcastle in what many billed as a relegation decider.

“I remember sitting in the changing room about two weeks before we played Newcastle away in the relegation clash,” he added.

“We had played Northampton at home on a Friday night and got beaten. We had thrown everything as a squad at it,