Toby Flood told The Rugby Club how well he has settled at Leicester - be it playing at 10 or 12!
Toby pleasantly surprised with his Welford welcome
Toby Flood might not know where his best position is, but he knows he is at the right club.
The England back's summer move from Newcastle to Leicester was one of the most high-profile in the game and raised more than the odd eyebrow.
Welford Road has never traditionally been considered the most welcoming place in the Guinness Premiership, for insiders or outsiders, but the 23-year-old has had few problems fitting in.
A try and an assist on his debut helped and with three wins from three and the Tigers sitting proudly at the top of the table, Flood has made the switch from the Tyneside to the Midlands as easily as he does from 10 to 12.
"I don't think there arfe big differences," he told
The Rugby Club. "I think here at Leicester there's a sense of winning and a knowledge of constant winning that pushes them through those tight games.
"I have to admit in Newcastle you were very small, the football took over and that was fantastic, but here it's bizarre. The first couple of times it happened I was almost taken aback, didn't know how to react to be honest. I just smiled and kind of walked on thinking 'these people are fantastic'.
"Honestly, I didn't know who they were talking to, the first time I heard my name I looked round thinking it must be a relative of mine or someone I know, but they were just a fan wanting to chat.
"I think if you come to a place like Leicester you realise what it's all about and the culture that goes with it but I was pretty much taken aback by how welcoming they all were."
Responsibility
Flood's best position has taken up plenty of column inches as soon as he burst on to the scene.
He has proven himself equally adept at either, but having moved out of the shadow of a certain Johnny Wilkinson at Newcastle, he has settled into the 10 shirt at Welford Road.
He has played four games there and been on the winning side each time, but with Aaron Mauger now alongside him, the options still remain to switch positions.
And the man himself is happy to do either.
"At 10 there's a lot more responsibility because the balls going through you a lot more than at 12," he said.
"I think that's exciting and definitely something I'm enjoying, but it will take time. I've spoken to a lot of people about it but no-one seems that worried about it at the moment, I think the way Leicester play is very similar.
"Look at Arron - he's not a huge ball-carrying number 12, he's a playmaker and distributor and a thinker. I think England have that at 12 and 10 as well, they want to have that same kind of first and second five-eighth like they do in New Zealand and I think that in itself means that there's not too many issues.
"Of course there's different responsibilities between 10 and 12; you do a lot more carrying, you organise the peripheral behind the 10, shapes and things for him, whereas at 10 you're making the first-line calls and organising the team around you."
Even if you are the new kid on the block...
