Prem Rugby: Finn Russell triumphs, Marcus Smith toils, Leicester rips him apart

Bonus Points faced some criticism at the end of the Six Nations.

Had holders France drawn their high-scoring match against England in the final round, rather than winning it by a single point, they would have finished top of the table despite having won a game less than second-placed Ireland.

However, the concept came to fruition at the end of Leicester’s win over Bristol on Sunday.

With time running red, Leicester leading 28-19 and each team scoring three tries, the Bears were attacking aggressively deep inside the home half.

Bristol were unable to win the game, but a try would give them two extra points and keep them one clear of Leicester in the table and the race for fourth place.

When Tigers substitute Finn Theobald-Thomas handed the ball over, it looked like Leicester would take the money and kick for a touch.

Their coach Jeff Barling certainly thinks so.

He later said: “Didn’t you hear me at the end? I wanted us to start it.”

Instead, despite the rest of the backline standing flat and exhausted and the left touchline invitingly close, Isaiah Perizzi sent a long pass the other way.

Freddie Steward caught it, kicking a precise bomb to Billy Searle, who fed the inside to Gabriel Hammer-Webb to go forward for Leicester’s four-try bonus.

It was an exciting ending.