One of the most promising young players on the Leicester Tigers books, Jordan Crane began to fulfil this promise last season, and how. A supremely confident yet ultra laid-back young man, Jordan was fast tracked from vital squad member to key player and headline maker in the space of half a season. This culminated in that crucial penalty kick in the Heineken Cup semi-final and the winning try in the Guinness Premiership final. Being a champion is about presence, a focus, a state of mind, and the vital element required to be a Leicester Tiger. Crane has grasped this notion with both hands and more trophies are now sure to follow. Soar caught up with Jordan at the Cutting Room to discuss the season of his life and tasting more glory in the future…

Jon Reeves: So Jordan, tell us about that winning kick in the Heineken Cup semi-final?
Jordan Crane: I wasn’t too nervous as the pressure wasn’t really on me as the guy who kicked before me had missed his. If I’d have missed, it would’ve been game on. It was a great feeling when it went over the bar. Unbelievable. It was pretty embarrassing to get all that attention from the media because other guys scored their kicks too. It was great for a forward to have had the opportunity to take a kick because we don’t usually get the chance to do anything like that. We should have won the game in normal time anyway, but it was an incredible feeling to win the way we did.

JR: After that it was back to the bread and butter of the Premiership and you hit the headlines again scoring the only try in the final. That must have been a great buzz…
JC: It was astonishing, especially after losing in the last two finals. To get that try was an awesome feeling after being sin-binned earlier in the game. We felt as though the pressure was off us a bit. It wasn’t the best of games but it’s all about winning the trophy. I don’t think I’d won a game at Twickenham before then though. I’d either lost or drawn, so it was absolutely brilliant to get the win.

JR: Tell us a bit about playing football as a youngster, weren’t you on the books at West Bromwich Albion as a goalkeeper?
JC: Growing up everybody around me played football. My brother was about the same age as me and we used to play. I played football until I was 14 and was never really interested in rugby. At high school my friends were playing rugby and I wasn’t really enjoying it at West Brom. There were two goalies at the academy and we tended to only play half a game a week each, which wasn’t really for me so I took up rugby and haven’t looked back since.

JR: Did you realise how big Leicester Tigers were before you signed for the club?
JC: Everyone knows the stature of Leicester. I think a lot of people find it an intimidating place to come. I was unsure as a lot of people that aren’t from Leicester hate the club. It was a big decision for me to make, but I’ve loved every minute of it since joining Leicester.

JR: Some supporters have since compared you to Tigers legend, Dean Richards. That must be a great compliment…
JC: It’s better than being compared to somebody rubbish! If I can live up to that then it will be great. I’ve got plenty of years ahead of me and if I can come close to achieving what he’s achieved than I’ll be very pleased.

JR: What do you make of the mass exodus of English players to France due to the wage capping? Is playing abroad something you would ever consider?
JC: I’ve been to France a few times and it’s not my favourite place in the world, so I think it would have to be right for me at the time. In the foreseeable future it’s definitely not something I’m thinking of. I think as I get older things may change, but I don’t think France is on the cards.

JR: What do you make of the developments to Welford Road?
JC: It looks awesome. It’s going to be the best rugby ground in the country bar Twickenham. It’s exciting times for Leicester as a city. The fans are brilliant and they’ll come out and fill the stadium for big games, like they have when we’ve played at the Walkers. I think it’s going to be immense and it’s a great club to be involved in at the moment with the evolution that’s going on.

JR: How have the players found playing at the Walkers Stadium?
JC: It’s a difficult one because the Walkers is a state of the art stadium with everything that you need and a bigger capacity. But, at Welford Road you’ve got the history, the standing terrace and everything that goes with it. I think if the players had a choice they’d play at Welford Road, but when we can get more fans into the Walkers and more support that’s a good thing too.

JR: There have been a lot of changes at the club in the last couple of seasons with coaches coming and going. Has it been unsettling for the players?
JC: I don’t think so. I think last season was more of a transition period seeing Marcelo come and go, but this season the way that the boys have turned it around with Heineke leaving is top notch. Heineke put in some good foundations and Cockers and Matty O’Connor have carried that on, adding to it and expanding our game and it has worked out well in the end.

JR: What has it been like having Richard Cockerill as coach? The players must be pleased that he’s secured the job full-time?
JC: He’s been here ever since I’ve been here. He was a player here and he knows what Leicester is all about. Having somebody like that at the helm who knows the traditions and the ethos of the club, I think we’ll be successful, especially with the coaches there to back him up. Matt O’Connor brings different views, coming from Australia and I think it’s a nice balance at the moment.

JR: Tell us a bit about when you made your England debut against South Africa?
JC: It’s not the greatest memory, the biggest loss at Twickenham ever for an England team, but it was a proud day for me. It’s not just making your debut against any country; it’s against the world champions so it was a great honour. It’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Everybody dreams of playing for their country and to do it against South Africa was great. It was just a shame about the result.

JR: Looking at England, things certainly seem to be improving under Martin Johnson? What’s it like playing under him?
JC: I think it takes time to make the transition and with it being his first job I think he’s doing really well. It’s difficult at the moment because you’ve still got players in the squad that played with Johnno. I think the younger boys are more standoffish with him, whereas the older guys that know him better are friends with him, if you like. I think the younger boys are a little bit intimidated by him, but I don’t think he’s as bad as he came across on the pitch.

JR: There’s a group of good, young English players in the Tigers side, with you, Toby Flood and Tom Croft. Is there a good team spirit between the lads and does this help when you’re in the England squad together?
JC: There’s a massive Tigers clique where we go in and we stick together, that’s the way they like it at Leicester, so we all stick together and it’s good for the club really. With Crofty coming through, me and Toby, we all played England Under 21’s together. There’s Richard Blaze coming through and we’ve just signed Anthony Allen from Gloucester, so we’re starting to get a real core of young players who are going to be the future of Leicester for the next ten years. If everyone stays together it’s going to be a great squad.

JR: What do you think you’ll need to do to nail down a regular place in the England team?
JC: I need to expand my game really, offloading and things like that. I know that I can do that. It’s just the style that Leicester have been playing in the past two years that’s made it harder, but I think that’s changing with Matt O’Connor and Cockers. They’ve given us a bit more freedom, so as soon as I can get my head round that I won’t be far away.

JR: The next World Cup must be a major target for you?
JC: I’ve got a few more short-term goals at the moment, but it’s always in the back of your mind that you want to play in the World Cup so that’s an ambition of mine to be on that plane going to New Zealand.

JR: How do you prepare mentally for a game?
JC: I have some little routines, but I don’t get nervous. I’m pretty relaxed. On a matchday I don’t bang my head against the wall or anything like that, like some of the boys. I’m pretty chilled and once you get out there it’s just another game.

JR: What do you do to relax away from the game?
JC: I like to chill out with my friends outside of the game and my brother only lives 45 minutes away and my parents live an hour away so I see my family. I also go to the cinema, concerts and things like that.

JR: How have you found Leicester as a place to live?
JC: I really like Leicester. I think it gets a lot of bad press, especially from outsiders. I think it’s a great city, as good as any other. Maybe the nightlife is not as a good as Leeds, but it’s getting there. The new Highcross Leicester is awesome but perhaps a few more nightclubs would be nice!