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Leicester’s George Ford kicked two conversions in the first leg at Clermont
Leicester Tigers are firmly in control of their Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 tie against ASM Clermont Auvergne as they welcome the TOP 14 side to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday.
Tries from Ellis Genge, Julian Montoya, Jack van Poortvliet, Hosea Saumaki and Harry Potter saw Tigers claim a 29-10 victory in the first leg at Stade Marcel-Michelin, leaving their opponents with a mountain to climb in the reverse fixture.
Leicester have won their three previous home encounters against Clermont in the Heineken Champions Cup and have won their last three home matches in the knockout stage of the competition.
The match gets underway at 17:30 (UK & Irish time) and is available to watch on BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, FR 4 and Sky Italia.
Air Steward x Harry Potter magic sealed a win for @LeicesterTigers 🤩#HeinekenChampionsCup extended highlights ➡️ https://t.co/3xHDvtWUvD pic.twitter.com/P2ZXtN2ouV
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 10, 2022
Other key stats:
- Leicester have won their last four games in the Heineken Champions Cup but have won more in succession only once in the last 15 seasons, a run of five straight wins in the pool stage of the 2015/16 season; they have scored exactly 29 points in each of their last three games in the competition.
- Leicester have won their last three matches at home in the knockout stage of the Heineken Champions Cup, including two victories against French opposition (both v Stade Français Paris).
- Clermont have lost their last two games in the Heineken Champions Cup but have not lost three games in a row in the competition since the pool stage in 2005/06 when they suffered four consecutive defeats.
- Clermont have won their last two away games in the knockout stage of the Heineken Champions Cup, after losing each of the previous three; those two wins came against teams from England, including a Round of 16 victory last season against Wasps (27-25).
- Leicester have averaged just 69 carries per game in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, fewer than any other team, but are the only side to have averaged 40+ kicks per game (44.5).
- Clermont have conceded 10 tries following a lineout in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, more than any team still in the competition and the second most overall (Bath-11); only two teams have scored more tries following a lineout than Leicester (10, behind Leinster and Connacht).
- Leicester’s Jasper Wiese has beaten 14 defenders in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, the second most of any forward, behind Stade Rochelais’ Gregory Alldritt (16).
- Morgan Parra (Clermont) has made 8/8 place kicks in the Heineken Champions Cup 2021/22, the most of any player yet to miss a kick this season.
- Alivereti Raka (Clermont) beat 10 defenders last weekend against Leicester, more than any other player in the Round of 16 1st leg and one of only three times a player has beaten 10+ defenders in a Heineken Champions Cup game this season (also Antoine Dupont in Rd1, Rory Hutchinson in Rd3).
Key quote:
Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick: “The focus now goes to next Saturday’s game at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and making sure we prepare well enough during the week to put in a performance in the second leg that will make our supporters proud.”
Freddie Steward goes over for Leicester Tigers against ASM Clermont Auvergne last season
Leicester Tigers powered their way to a comprehensive victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne on Saturday to set up a home Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster Rugby.
Their 27-17 victory in the second leg at Mattioli Woods Welford Road completed a 56-27 aggregate win for the Gallagher Premiership leaders, who underlined their Heineken Champions Cup potential.
It would have taken an impressive comeback for Clermont to have progressed after their 29-10 home defeat in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie, and Leicester’s defence proved too strong, as they also showed good attacking intent for their four tries.
Clermont made a promising start as they spent the first five minutes camped on the Leicester line, but the hosts would go down the other end to score on their first meaningful attack as No.8 Hanro Liebenberg battered his way through from close range.
Leicester’s rearguard was robust amid periods of extensive Clermont pressure, the visitors taking just three points from a lengthy period in their 22m, Camille Lopez on target from the tee on 16 minutes.
DRINK. THAT. IN! 🤩
Harry Potter, you are magical! Beats one, two, THREE defenders before Freddie Steward takes it over the line! 🔥
A magnificent @LeicesterTigers try! 👏 #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ba0odjaF87
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) April 16, 2022
Clermont had a try ruled out by the TMO on 26 minutes as scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau grounded on the dead ball line after a Leicester kick was charged down.
Tigers would then go close to scores through lock Harry Wells and wing Chris Ashton, both players knocking on before grounding.
Four points separated the sides at the break, though Leicester were well in control thanks to their first leg victory, and they made it 10-3 with a penalty from fly-half George Ford early in the second half.
Tigers tightened their grip on the contest on 51 minutes as replacement Matt Scott stepped inside to finish off a slick passing move.
Clermont kept battling and produced some of their best rugby of the afternoon to send wing Alivereti Raka over out wide, Morgan Parra converting.
Drink it in Tigers fans… if you can 😂#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/eoVTUFri8x
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 16, 2022
Any hopes of a second leg win were ended, however, when Clermont replacement hooker Etienne Fourcade was yellow-carded after only being on field a few minutes.,
Leicester bagged their third with a penalty try on 62 minutes – flanker Tommy Reffell thought he had scored from close range, and although he had not grounded the ball, Clermont replacement prop Daniel Bibi Biziwu was yellow-carded for illegally trying to stop the move.
It was 14 versus 13 soon afterwards after Leicester flanker Ollie Chessum was red-carded for leading with his shoulder on Clermont replacement Samuel Ezeala.
However, Tigers scored again with a superb sweeping length-of-the-field move, wing and Heineken Star of the Match Harry Potter weaved his way through a static defence and full-back Freddie Steward finished in the corner.
Clermont added a consolation try from No 8 Fritz Lee on 69 minutes and Parra converted, but Tigers went through in dominant style.
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