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The return clash of the two European heavyweights is arguably the most mouth-watering fixture of round four after the fireworks at Welford Road. - 10/12/2014 16:42
The return clash of the two European heavyweights is arguably the most mouth-watering fixture of round four after the fireworks at Welford Road.
Leicester ended Toulon’s year-long, nine game, winning run in the competition but it was former Tigers’ prop Martin Castrogiovanni’s astonishing rant about Richard Cockerill which has added extra spice ahead of their second meeting.
Toulon have apologised to Tigers for Castrogiovanni’s X-rated outburst but the blue touch paper has already been lit before what could be the deciding match in pool three.
“It was a shame as it puts a dampener on what was a great game,” said Tigers scrum half Ben Youngs.
“Castro is a guy who plays with a lot of emotion and I think the disappointment of going back to his old place and not getting the result took over a little bit.
“But as players we are not distracted by that, we are focused on what we need to get out of this game and it is about preparing to back things up.”
Tigers became the first English club to beat Toulon in Europe’s premier cup competition but their record against French clubs in France is abysmal.
The two-time Heineken Cup winners have won just once in their last nine attempts in France. Toulon, who are going for a record three titles in 2015, have won all 12 of their previous home games in the competition.
Youngs added: “We need to back that result up again this weekend.
“We have had a big confidence boost to beat the defending champions. Toulon are such a powerful side in terms of their pack, they are obviously going for a third- straight title so we have to keep our focus.
“We are one step closer in terms of trying to make our way out of this pool but we have got the ultimate challenge in going to their place and it is going to be a very, very tough ask. But it is one we are looking forward to.”
Defending champions Toulon tightened their grip on Pool 3 with a comprehensive victory over Leicester Tigers at Stade Felix Mayol. - 13/12/2014 17:26
Defending champions Toulon tightened their grip on Pool 3 with a comprehensive victory over Leicester Tigers at Stade Felix Mayol.
Ali Williams and Mathieu Bastareaud scored in either half while Leigh Halfpenny kicked 13 points.
Tigers responded through Blaine Scully but were made to pay for allowed their hosts a 16-point lead and left Cote D’Azur empty-handed.
Toulon produced a powerful performance to open a five point lead in the Pool standings with Ulster and Scarlets to play on Sunday.
Roared on by the Pilou-Pilou, Toulon erupted into life when Bryan Habana launched an attack from the kick-off.
It immediately put his team on the front-foot and they raced into a 13-point lead after just 14 minutes.
Halfpenny kicked a penalty and then followed a burst by Maxime Mermoz to put Williams within range to crash over. The Welshman converted and added a penalty after Steffon Armitage broke clear.
Matters worsened for Tigers when the normally clinical Owen Williams kicked wide with his opening effort before losing former All Black lock Brad Thorn to an early ankle injury.
Marcos Ayerza took Sebastien Tillous-Borde off the ball and that allowed Halfpenny his fourth kick.
Trailing 16-0, Leicester finally got a grip on the tie and hit back through Scully on 27 minutes.
Williams showed strength and speed to charge through and Jamie Gibson timed his pass to perfection for the wing to slide over in the corner and cut the lead to 16-5.
Bakkies Botha went close to scoring after Thillous-Borde stepped through. The giant Springbok was then forced off before half-time following a nasty clash of heads with a team-mate.
Leicester were lifted by a defensive stand before half-time and Halfpenny suffered a rare miss at goal at the start of the second half.
Tigers knew they had to make their most of their few chances but when Matthew Tait slipped through, Vereniki Goneva took the wrong option.
Basteraud landed the telling blow in the 55th minute when he crashed over between the posts for Toulon’s second try.
Habana stepped off his wing and it took a desperate tackle by Ben Youngs to deny Nicolas Sanchez after some scintillating footwork by the fly-half.
However Toulon had numbers and after Williams fumbled, Bastareaud picked up and scored.
Williams clawed back a penalty but could not find a way through Toulon who saw Steffon Armitage and Mermoz both waste scoring chances.
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