Leeds figure it out with two sevens like Wales

Just as two opensides helped Wales to Six Nations glory against England, Leeds’ own magnificent sevens – Jacob Rowan and Chris Walker – have handed their side a shot at promotion.
While not yet in the same class as Lions duo, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric, the presence of Carnegie captain Rowan and Walker in the same back row has coincided with a six-game winning Championship streak.
Walker, 21, who, like Rowan is a product of the club’s successful academy, said: “Having two sevens definitely helps, especially at Headingley where the width of the pitch lends itself to a wide, expansive game.
“With two sevens we can cover quite a bit of distance between us and try to disrupt the opposition at the breakdown.
“I think it’s quite good having us both at the club because we can learn off each other. We spend a lot of time together in training, and the competition for places right across the back row can only make us better.
“Ryan Burrows is a very good player, one of the best back rows in the Championship this season, and Rob Baldwin has done very well since joining us from Wharfedale.”
With six games of the regular season to go the chances of a place in the play-offs looked remote. Leeds languished in sixth and did not even have a home with Headingley out of action.
But Walker’s return, following an enforced absence due to a red card against Jersey in January, helped to propel Leeds up the table and set up the Bank Holiday Monday Championship semi-final fixture against red-hot title favourites Newcastle.
Rowan said: “Chris is a fantastic player; he’s got a lot of experience with the England age groups from last year and in previous years so it’s great having him in the team.
“He gets through a lot of work in games and quite rightly he’s got his chance in the last few weeks.”
For Rowan, Monday’s game is the biggest of his career. He said: “It’s a huge game for Leeds and for me personally because we’ve not been in the semi-finals before. We had a big push to get into the play-offs so the boys had a couple of days off after the final game against Nottingham.
“But we’re all raring to go again now and hopefully we can pick up from where we left off. Confidence is high, the spirit is good and we feel we’re in a strong position.”
Leeds will do well to beat Newcastle over two legs especially with their abysmal home record against the Falcons, winning only once in 11 outings: a 16-15 victory in the Premiership in March, 2008.
But Newcastle’s loss to Bristol in the final round of the regular season proves the favourites are beatable, and Rowan says Leeds are determined to put on a show worthy of the occasion.
He said: “We realise we’ll be the underdogs because they have a great squad and great coaching staff and they have dominated the league.
“A lot of pressure will be on them, but there are expectations on us, too. We’re still a professional outfit and we want to perform and win.
“With it being a Bank Holiday, hopefully, we’ll get good numbers to cheer us on.
“I remember going as a 14-year-old to watch Leeds versus Newcastle over Christmas in 2004 and there were over 14,000 in the ground.
“Jonny Wilkinson was playing and there was a lot of buzz still about the World Cup.
“I can’t see us getting anything like that many on Monday but it really does help lift the players knowing you have a large home following behind you.”
JON NEWCOMBE