FREDDIE Burns has taken to spending 20 minutes each morning in a sauna, and with George Ford away on England duty he is ready to turn up the heat on Sale this afternoon at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Burns, 31, returned to Leicester in the summer after a stint in Japan. He will make his first start in a Premiership match for the Tigers at 10 this season with Ford in supreme form.
Owen Farrell's injury prompted a recall for Ford and Burns, whose three league starts have all come at full-back, is ready to seize his opportunity.
“When I first spoke to Steve Borthwick (Leicester's head coach) this is the role I thought I would be filling,” said Burns, who spent three years at Leicester after joining from Gloucester before moving to Bath, his home city.
“Fordy has been in outstanding form and fully deserves his England callup. From a selfish point of view, it will be great to get some time at outside-half.”
Burns, who has won five England caps, says spending last year in Japan with Toyota Jido Shokki changed him as a person.
“I bought a little sauna at home and instead of scrolling through social media on my phone I go in there at 7am and listen to recordings about positivity and gratitude, zoning out and taking time for myself.
“Rugby is an emotional rollercoaster and as I get older I want to level out. I fell back in love with the game in Japan having been disappointed at how my time at Bath went.
“Being part of a club like Leicester is special and if my role is on the bench, then go with it. I want to remind people how good I can be and I am chomping at the bit.”
Leicester's recent record in Sale is not impressive, three successive defeats without a bonus point, but they have only lost one match all season, although they are without six players on England duty.
They have clawed victory from defeat on a number of occasions, including their last outing in Connacht, when Burns was outside-half, when they stole the points with a last-minute try.
“I have played in teams in the past where it could be a selfish environment, but here the team comes first and no-one wants to let anybody down,” said Burns. “In my case, if that means being on the bench or playing at full-back, you take your medicine and perform when you get your opportunity.
“I was happy in Japan and would not have gone anywhere else but Leicester. I am playing for a club I love in front of a crowd I have always had a good relationship with.
“Sale will be tough. We will need a monumental performance to beat them. I have always lived and died by the sword and Steve backs me to make the right call.”
