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Les Tigers sont l'un des deux seuls clubs à avoir remporté ses quatre premiers matchs européens. Une cinquième victoire dimanche (20h45) face à Benetton Treviso composterait leur billet pour les quarts de finale. - 12/01/2016 15:18
Leicester Tigers can wrap-up qualification for the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a victory over Benetton Treviso at Welford Road on Saturday.
The Tigers are one of only two sides to have won all four matches in the Champions Cup pool stages, and fifth victory would seal their place in the last eight. Treviso are still without a point in this season’s pool stages after defeats to Stade Francais, Munster and Leicester.
Richard Cockerill’s men romped to a 36-3 triumph when the sides met in Italy, so Leicester will be confident of claiming another bonus-point victory in-front of their raucous Welford Road supporters. It’s been a good week for the midlands club, who welcomed England centre Manu Tuilagi back into the fold during their Aviva Premiership defeat of rivals Northampton Saints, before they announced the blockbuster signing of South Africa wing JP Pieterson. There were also new contracts for Tongan hot-stepper Telusa Veainu, centre Matt Smith and flying wing Adam Thompstone.
Treviso have suffered contrasting fortunes as they have gone all season without a win. Their 16-game losing run will give them extra motivation to pull-off an upset at Welford Road on Saturday.
One man who is excited by the Leicester revolution is second-row Graham Kitchener, and he certainly is not taking a win against the Italians for granted.
He said: “We definitely won’t be taking Treviso lightly this weekend. They gave us a real tough game out in Italy and showed that they are really tough up-front. They have nothing to lose this weekend so they will be coming over to play. We’re going to have to perform at our best, but if we do that then hopefully we can get the win and the bonus-point.
English sides have prospered in this season’s competition, and Kitchener reckons it is down to the pride in the club shirt.
He said: “I’m not sure why teams from England are doing so well this year, it may be down to writing wrongs from the world cup, but for me, it’s about coming back to your club showing pride in the jersey. We’re all pulling together and doing the best we can for the club.”
Match Facts
- This will be the 10th time these sides have met, Leicester have only played Leinster (11 times) more often in this competition.
- Tigers have won all nine previous meetings between these sides; in fact they have won all 21 games they have played against Italian opposition in this competition.
- Leicester have lost just one of their last 30 home games in the Champions Cup (W27 D2).
- Treviso have lost 33 of their last 34 away games in the Champions Cup, a victory against Newport Gwent Dragons in 2007 the only positive note in this run.
Les Tigers empochent leur billet pour les quarts de finales d'European Rugby Champions Cup avec une large succès à domicile face à Trévise (47-7). - 17/01/2016 11:35
Two-time Champions Cup winners Leicester Tigers booked their place in the quarter-finals with an emphatic victory over Treviso.
Richard Cockerill’s side had secured a four-try bonus point before half-time against the Italian strugglers and the win moved them out of reach in pool four.
Stade Francais’ 26-13 defeat in Munster earlier in the day means Tigers go into next weekend’s clash against the French club having already secured an all-important home quarter-final.
They got off to a lightning-fast start at Welford Road, with their first try coming in the opening minute when good hands from Manu Tuilagi put flanker Mike Fitzgerald over in the corner.
Tigers were then awarded a penalty try when Treviso brought down a driving maul close to their line, with Freddie Burns adding his second conversion.
Burns had a hand in Tigers’ third try when his deft chip over the top was collected by Vereniki Goneva to touch down.
Treviso did have one moment of brilliance in the first 40 minutes when they executed a perfect line-out move to send Andrea Pratichetti through a huge gap in the home defence for a try.
But Adam Thompstone got his first try of the season for the Tigers to wrap-up the bonus point before the interval.
Treviso shot themselves in the foot at the beginning of the second half when they allowed Tigers to take a quick line-out in their own half and Ben Youngs raced half the length of the field to score their fifth try.
Fly-half Burns got their sixth when he collected his own chip through the Treviso defence as any hope of a fightback disappeared for the visitors.
An outbreak of snow and a host of changes for both sides took the sting out of the game in the final quarter but a yellow card for Treviso's Simone Ferrari helped Tigers to find some gaps in the visitors' defence and replacement Laurence Pearce went over in the final moments.
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