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Il Benetton e lo Stade Francais stanno faticando nei rispettivi campionati e sono senza punti nel gruppo 4 di Champions Cup. Lo scontro diretto di sabato può allora essere utile per dare una svolta alla stagione. - 11/12/2015 13:28
Leicester Tigers are out to make home advantage count once again when they clash with European Rugby Champions Cup pool rivals Stade Francais, for a coveted place in the semi-finals.
The Anglo-French rivals meet at Welford Road this Saturday in a mouthwatering quarter-final contest. It’s one-all between between the sides who finished first and second in Pool 4. Richard Cockerill’s men got off to a flyer in round one as they cruised to a bonus-point 33-20 victory over the Parisians and went on to win their next four fixtures.
But Stade head coach Gonzalo Quesada steered his side to a pair of wins over Benetton Treviso and a home triumph over Munster to setup an all-or-nothing clash with Leicester at Stade Jean Bouin. And the Paris side came out 36-21 victors to earn a deciding quarter-final clash against the two-time European kings.
The Tigers have muscled their way into the top four of the Aviva Premiership with recent victories over Champions Cup quarter-finalists Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, though they have slipped to defeats at Sale and Wasps. Stade may not be in the frame to defend their Top14 title, with just seven wins from their 20 matches, but they will be firing on all cylinders as European rugby returns.
And Leicester captain Ed Slater is expecting Stade to show their heavyweight class in an all-or-nothing clash in what will be the third meeting of the two sides in European this season.
“This match will be completely different to the one in the pool stages. It’s a one-off game and that completely changes the mindset of the players. Luckily we managed to get home advantage which is important, and we want to make the most of that. But it’s definitely going to be a big battle,” aid Slater.
“To be involved in these huge European knockout games is one of the main reasons you play rugby. I’ve been to three quarter-finals and hopefully we can go a step further this time. But we know it’s going to be a huge test against a Stade Francais side with a dominant pack and firepower out-wide.”
Leicester have reached two finals – in 2007 and 2009 – since they became the first team to successfully defend the European Cup in 2001 and 2002 – beating Stade in the 2001 final in Paris. Stade have finished runners-up on two occasions, and are looking to go all the way this year.
But head coach Quesada has a tough choice this weekend, whether to play South African star Morne Steyn his French playmaker Jules Plisson at No 10.
”It's a tough choice this weekend. Throughout the period where Jules was away with the France team, Morné played very well. Both have a very good kicking game, both are good in in defence, both play rugby we want to play them,” said Quesada.
“Both work hard and have a great attitude. I wish that the two make a difference, like during the week , if one was late for training. Both are internationals but I can not say.”
Notes
- This will be Leicester Tigers 11th contest against Stade Français Paris in the tournament including their 2001 final victory at the Parc des Princes.
- Leicester have won three of their last four matches against Stade in the Champions Cup and have won four of five home matches against the TOP 14 club.
- Tigers have lost just one of their last 31 home matches (W28, D2) and have won each of their last six matches on home soil in the Champions Cup.
- Stade Français have made the knockout stage for the first time since 2009/10 however, they have not won a quarter-final match since 2004/05.
- Leicester won 87 lineouts in the pool stage, 93% of their total contested – the most wins and second highest win rate of any team in the competition.
- Tigers have lost their last three quarter-final fixtures, each by margins of seven points or fewer; all three of those defeats came away from home.
- Stade have lost all four of their away quarter-finals in the Champions Cup, suffering a record defeat in the competition (42-16 v Toulouse) the last time they reached this stage in 2010.
- The Parisians had the best tackle success from the pool stage (91%), missing just 12 tackles per game on average.
- Stade have scored 12 tries from inside their own half this season, no other side has scored more than eight from the same distance.
- No team scored more tries from kick returns than Stade in the pool stage (5 – level with Exeter).
Leicester Tigers hit Stade Francais for six in a 41-13 thumping to advance to a first European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final since 2009. - 10/04/2016 15:41
Leicester Tigers hit Stade Francais for six in a 41-13 thumping to advance to a first European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final since 2009.
Richard Cockerill’s men will face either reigning champions Toulon or Racing 92 later this month after cruising to victory at Welford Road. Manu Tuilagi kicked off the try fest after four minutes, before Freddie Burns and Vereniki Goneva got in on the act in the first-half.
And the Tigers cut-loose after the break. Goneva crossed for a second after Julien Dupuy scored for Stade, before Mike Fitzgerald and Telusa Veainu capped off a sensational performance.
The Tigers got off to the perfect start in pursuit of a first Champions Cup semi-final since 2009. Freddie Burns, who set the early pace, sent a grubber kick towards the corner which Djibril Camara failed to handle. The Stade full-back was forced into touch, before Burns snatched the ball and found Tuilagi with a quick throw-in. The England centre crashed over and Burns converted to send Leicester 7-0 ahead after four minutes.
Morne Steyn got Stade back in it with a pair of penalties, before the pink wall finally gave way again after 33 minutes. After some resolute defence, Ben Youngs looked up and saw Vereniki Goneva in space. He found him with an inch perfect pass and the Fijian flyer waltzed home at the posts for a seven point score.
Leicester were in dreamland moments later when Burns intercepted Steyn’s pass in midfield to streak home for a third first-half score. The outside-half converted his own score to give the Tigers a comfortable 24-6 half-time lead.
But former Tigers favourite Dupuy came back to haunt his old side after the break. He scampered over after some hard graft from the forwards to give the Parisians hope. But his score was quickly wiped out by Goneva. The wing exploited a yard of space and sprinted home for his side’s fourth score.
And the home side wrapped up a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals with a flourish. Matt Tait started an explosive counter attack on his 22, before Telusa Veainu and Brendon O’Connor continued the charge. The ball was worked wide to Goneva, who found Mike Fitzgerald with the scoring pass.
It got even better Veainu hit Stade for six. The man with the dancing feet jinked his way around two defenders and sprinted in at the corner to make it 41-13 with 15 minutes remaining.
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