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Racing 92 scrum-half Teddy Iribaren in try-scoring action in the Heineken Champions Cup
2018 finalists Racing 92 will take another step towards European Finals Weekend in Newcastle on Sunday if they are able to defeat two-time winners Leicester Tigers at the Paris La Defense Arena. You can catch the match on BT Sport, FR2 or beIN SPORTS from 15:15 GMT.
- Racing 92 have won four of their previous five tournament meetings with Leicester Tigers, including each of the last three.
- Racing 92 have won their last six home games in Europe’s top flight, their best ever such run in the tournament.
- Leicester have lost 13 of their last 14 away games against TOP 14 opposition (W1), their solitary victory coming against Montpellier in Round 4 of the 2013/14 season.
- Racing have won their last three home games against Gallagher Premiership opposition.
- Tigers won their Round 2 match against Scarlets, but have not won back-to-back matches in the tournament since 2015/16.
- Since the start of the 2016/17 season, Leicester have conceded an average of 29.4 points per game, scoring 16.7 in reply.
- Leicester have allowed their opponents to make just seven offloads in the two rounds to date, the lowest total of any side.
- Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi totalled 12 defenders beaten across the first two rounds, only England teammate Jack Nowell of the Exeter Chiefs beat more (15).
- Racing 92’s Finn Russell made six offloads in the opening two rounds, and only Ulster’s Will Addison managed more (8).
📸 The lads are out on the training paddock at Oval Park in preparation for Sunday's #ChampionsCup clash with Racing 92 in Paris pic.twitter.com/zKEwf3u47l
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) December 7, 2018
Racing 92 sit top of Heineken Champions Cup Pool 4 after a pulsating 36-26 bonus point victory over Leicester Tigers in Paris.
The match started with some stunning running rugby from Racing and they won a penalty that was booted towards the corner. From the resulting line-out, play was spread and reached Virimi Vakatawa dived over for the first try, with Finn Russell slotting the conversion.
Racing again spread the ball wide minutes later after Matt Toomua slipped at a crucial time, allowing the French side to create the overlap, finding the dynamic Juan Imhoff who jogged towards the corner for a simple score.
Leicester finally won some possession in the Racing 22 on 15 minutes, driving an excellent scrum, with the ball finding Jonah Holmes who beat his man and sauntered over the try line. George Ford would add the extras.
The Finn Russell x Simon Zebo connection is doing damage in Paris 🔥
🏴➡️🇮🇪
How about that for an offload? 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5AkPq4Nn8p
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 9, 2018
A stunning offload from Finn Russell to Simon Zebo opened up a hole for Racing’s third try, after some powerful work from EPCR Player of the Year Leone Nakarawa. Russell – who created the try – slotted over the conversion.
Barely 30 minutes were on the clock when Racing added a bonus point try.
Nakarawa fought his way past several Leicester men, driving Racing up to the posts before a simple off-load to Baptiste Chuzenoux, who dotted down with ease.
Racing 92 at their free-flowing be…
Wait a second…
George Ford says NO! 😮
Some quick-thinking from the England fly-half secures a bonus point for Leicester Tigers. pic.twitter.com/S6zF6AanAe
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 9, 2018
A nice drive from Leicester took them close to Racing’s try line, before No.8 Sione Kalamafoni cheekily dived over two Racing men at the breakdown, touching down for a second score for the visitors and a sixth try of a pulsating first half.
In the second half, further tries were added by Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi and Adam Thompstone as well as Racing wing Olivier Klemenczak in a scrappier 40 minutes.
The two sides will clash again next weekend at Welford Road, with Racing 92 looking to make it four wins from as many Heineken Champions Cup matches this season.
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