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Miles Benjamin's two tries last weekend not only pushed his claims for an England wing berth in the RBS 6 Nations
Miles Benjamin’s two tries last weekend not only pushed his claims for an England wing berth in the RBS 6 Nations, but also ensured the Tigers kept up the pressure on Pool 5 leaders Ulster Rugby in the battle for Heineken Cup quarter-final qualification.
Benjamin’s double brought him his first tries at Welford Road and sealed a full house of points in a magnificent 41-32 victory for the Tigers that all but ended Montpellier’s hopes of repeating their quarter-final finish last season.
It was as much to do with Benjamin’s two tries as Ryan Lamb’s last gasp drop goal that robbed the French side of a bonus point that severely dented Fabien Galthie’s side’s hopes of reaching the last eight. Two successive defeats have left them eight points adrift of Ulster and six behind the Tigers.
It means Montpellier will have to throw the kitchen sink at the English champions if they are to stay in the hunt. In their favour is the fact the Tigers haven’t won on French soil since they beat Bourgoin in 2006 – eight games go.
“There is a lot for us to improve on. It was a pretty exciting game last weekend and that drop goal from Ryan Lamb stopped them from getting a bonus point,” said Benjamin.
“It was frustrating as well because we let them in for a few tries and they could have won the game. We expected them to kick a lot more.
“Hopefully, we can show what we can do in the back line again next weekend. I had got a lot of stick for not scoring. I was relieved to have got a first try at Welford Road last weekend and it would be great to get a few more.”
Niall Morris comes into the back line to partner Benjamin on the wing, while England No 8 Thomas Waldrom returns to the back row. While Tigers have made only two changes to their team from last weekend, Galthie has made 14 changes to his starting line-up for the return fixture.
Only Georgian international Mamuka Gorgodze, one of Montpellier’s try scorers at Welford Road, remains in the starting XV. He will lead the side.
“I thought it was a good performance last weekend, with some good tries and a great attitude to play throughout the team. Montpellier also showed just dangerous they can be and there are certainly parts of the game we can improve on,” said Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
Match Facts
- Montpellier have lost their last two Heineken Cup games, but they have never suffered three defeats in a row in the competition.
- Montpellier have made 31 clean breaks in their three opening matches – the highest total in the tournament.
- Ulster Rugby (95) are the only side to have scored more points than Leicester (91) after three rounds.
- The French side have forced 11 turnovers – the lowest total in the competition to date.
- Leicester have stolen a tournament high 12 opposition lineout throws in the first three rounds.
- Tigers have also been awarded a tournament high 39 penalties/free kicks so far this season.
- Leicester back row, Julian Salvi, has conceded seven penalties so far this season, only Michele Rizzo of Benetton Treviso (8) has conceded more after three rounds.
- Toby Flood has kicked more goals than any other player after three rounds, landing 16 of his 19 attempts (84%).
Leicester Tigers closed the gap on Pool 5 leaders Ulster with a late win in Montpellier. A converted try from centre Niki Goneva 45 seconds from the end snatched the victory against a determined French side. - 15/12/2013 17:49
Leicester Tigers closed the gap on Pool 5 leaders Ulster with a late win in Montpellier. A converted try from centre Niki Goneva 45 seconds from the end snatched the victory against a determined French side.
Two tries in 10 minutes from outside half Enzo Selponi and wing Lucas Dupont looked to have secured Montpellier the win after Tom Youngs had crossed for the visitors but Goneva broke French hearts with his late try.
Montpellier had made 14 changes from the side who went down 41-32 at Welford Road but they started very brightly. Both sides struggled to go through the phases in the opening 20 minutes and it wasn’t until Tigers wing Miles Benjamin was shown a yellow card for a block on scrum half Benoit Paillaugue that the game opened up.
But twice Montpellier got within five metres of the Tiger’s line and wasted the opportunity. Leicester survived the 10 minutes when they were down to 14 men without conceding any points.
The best chance of the half was a penalty to Montpellier on the stroke of half time but Paillaugue pushed his kick wide to send the game into the break at 0-0. Tigers thought they had eventually broken the deadlock on 47 minutes when Miles Benjamin went over in the corner after an initial break by Ben Youngs by the TMO spotted a foot in touch.
The opening try finally came on 50 minutes when Tom Waldron made a superb break and found Goneva on his shoulder, he fed Ben Youngs who made a short pass for his brother Tom to crash over. Flood missed the conversion as he continued to struggle with what looked like a hamstring problem.
Montpellier wasted no time in hitting straight back when two minutes later number eight Alex Tulou picked up from the back of the scrum and set Paillaugue free and he found Selponi to race over. Paillaugue added the conversion to nudge the home side back in front by two points.
Buoyed by their first try the French side added a second on 62 minutes when Mamuka Gorgodze broke through the middle of a ruck and found Dupont in support to cross close to the posts and Paillaugue once again added the conversion.
Replacement outside half Ryan Lamb kicked a long penalty to keep Leicester in touch before Goneva crossed in the 79thminute and Lamb added the extras for the win.
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