James O'Connor reveals what Finn Russell told him after Lions lunch as Leicester break Bath's win streak

Leicester Tigers pulled off a last-minute win over Gallagher PREM champions Bath at Welford Road, breaking the visitors' win streak with an 80th-minute penalty. James O'Connor made his Tigers debut after joining from the Crusaders in the summer, and revealed a conversation with Bath fly-half Finn Russell after the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia.

James O'Connor made his Leicester Tigers debut on Saturday, leading his side to a gripping last-minute 22-20 win over champions Bath - and afterwards revealed a fascinating conversation with fly-half opponent Finn Russell.

The Australian was playing in the Gallagher PREM for the first time since leaving Sale Sharks in 2019, and played 68 minutes at Welford Road after starting.

After getting the better of Russell in an impressive first outing for Leicester, the 35-year-old spoke with TNT Sports after the game, and shared an interaction between the pair following this summer's British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

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"They [Bath] have been playing really good footy," O'Connor said.

"I actually had lunch with Finn after the Lions series, and he said he was coming for me, so this one has been a little bit tastier."

He continued: "We didn't want to keep it too tight against them, we know they're very good at their basics, three good kickers on the field.

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"Rugby is a war of attrition, and I felt like our pack really stood up today, but so did our outside backs. They gave me such a good platform to work off, and you saw what our outside backs did, they really stood up and put the ball in the right parts of the field.

"Felt like we had a balanced game - wasn't perfect at all, a lot to work on but proud of our efforts."

Bath were the only side to have won all three of their games before the tie, and looked like they were on their way to a fourth straight victory when Russell landed a penalty in the 72nd minute.

But the visitors' penalty count had been steadily creeping up in the second half, and their poor discipline would be their downfall.

Billy Searle was hit by a high tackle from Thomas du Toit, and the Bath prop saw yellow, allowing the replacement stand-off to add the decisive three points from 25 metres out.

Searle sends Leicester fans wild to seal win and end Bath's unbeaten start

Video credit: TNT Sports

O'Connor had only been back at Leicester for two weeks after joining the Wallabies squad for the Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand on October 4.

But the Australia veteran is settling in nicely to his new life in the East Midlands.

"It feels like it's been months but it's been just under two weeks," O'Connor said. "I'm settling in well, I've got a great spot and me and the wife and the dog are very happy. Life is good.

"[I have] nothing to prove, I'm just here to enjoy myself. Playing for a great team with great culture, awesome fans, it's an incredible turnout.

"I just want to put my best foot forward and deliver for my group. Whatever that looks like, I'm happy."

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Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+

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