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Report | Sharks end Tigers' home run

Figure image

Leicester Tigers were beaten at home for the first time this season when Sale Sharks scored four times in a 26-16 victory at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday.

Sale continued their winning run from the start of the campaign, taking five points in Round 5 of the Gallagher Premiership campaign as Tigers lost at home for the first time since June 2021 despite a try from Jasper Wiese on his first club appearance of the season.

Although Sale scored the opening try of the afternoon through Tom Roebuck, Tigers led 9-5 thanks to a trio of Freddie Burns penalties and then Jasper Wiese – in his first club appearance of the season after international commitments – barged over the tryline and the conversion stretched the lead to 11 points.

But Sharks responded with a converted try from fly-half Robert du Preez as just four points separated the teams at half-time and then stretched the lead with two more tries as they shut out Tigers for the full 40 minutes.

Wiese, who linked up opposite his brother Cobus, was joined in making a first appearance of the season by hooker Julián Montoya, while Anthony Watson made his home debut as a second-half replacement.

Matt Scott made his 50th first-team appearance for Tigers, returning to the team with Richard Wigglesworth, Nemani Nadolo and Calum Green who all missed the game at Saracens in Round 4.

Sale had lost just one of their last seven meetings with the Tigers in Premiership Rugby as fly-half Robert du Preez got the game started and the visitors enjoyed some early attacking possession until Tigers worked their way out and a long diagonal kick from Freddie Burns took play up to the edge of the opposition 22 on four minutes.

Spilled ball from Sharks kept play in that area, and a break in broken field by Harry Potter had Sale scrambling back until they were penalised in defence and Freddie Burns kicked the opening points of the afternoon.

Tigers then blocked out a penalty into the corner from the restart but were unable to clear their lines fully and, when Sharks returned, they were playing with a penalty advantage again when wing Tom Roebuck forced his way past two tacklers in the corner to score. The conversion from Robert du Preez was just wide with the visitors 5-3 in front.

Obstruction as Harry Potter chased a high ball gave Burns another kick and he made it 6-5 before returning to defensive duties, sweeping up a chip into the corner after George Martin had made an important tackle to stop Akker van der Merwe.

Burns added a third three-pointer as the game entered its second quarter and Potter threatened on the left before the whistle went again, but Sharks hooked ball away when Tigers missed their lineout.

The bounce of a chip-kick from Wigglesworth evaded Burns in front of the posts, but Tigers made the most of the territory gains, staying upfield as Jimmy Gopperth went to the left and Potter beat two defenders before being caught by Tuilagi just short. Wiese, though, was there as he carried over the final metres to the tryline and Burns added the extras to make it 16-5 on the half-hour.

A knock-on at the restart, though, gave Sharks a scrum and Robert du Preez switched play to the blindside, creating a two-on-one and found his way to the tryline before adding the conversion for good measure.

Potter made a good catch of high ball under pressure near halfway and then managed to force off three tacklers as he retained possession and Montoya took defenders with him near the tryline until Sharks shut out further progress and then won a penalty to clear upfield.

The Tigers forwards started the second half positively with a scrum penalty and then a lineout drive from a defensive position, while also closing out a run by Manu Tuilagi as George Martin stepped in to make the tackle.

But Sharks stayed in the Tigers half and, when replacement scrum-half Raffi Quirke saw a gap, skipper Tom Curry was on his shoulder and ran in to score. It out his side in front on 49 minutes and the bonus-point try quickly followed as Ben Carpenter broke out and Quirke was on his shoulder to score on the left. Fly-half du Preez converted for a 10-point lead.

Moments later Tom O’Flaherty looked sure to add another as he broke through from inside his own half, but Freddie Steward chased him down and forced the ball loose too just 10 metres from the tryline.

A 50-22 kick from Burns took Tigers forward and then when he chipped ahead, Scott was just a fraction short of the line when he was wrapped up. Wiese and Harry Wells also went close to the decisive push for the line until the ball was stuck under a pile of bodies.

When play restarted with a five-metre scrum, Wiese again and Nadolo were in the thick of the action trying to find a way over the line before the whistle blew for a knock-on.

Tigers gained a penalty when aggressive defence outnumbered O’Flaherty near his own tryline, but Sharks fronted up to and kept the hosts out.

Watson made his home debut as a replacement in the last quarter of an hour, running on to the right wing as Scott made way and Potter moved into midfield.

A scrum penalty gave du Preez a sight of the posts on 71 minutes but his kick slipped wide of the posts and, when the whistle went again, this time the visiting fly-half turned down the shot to take the clock down by playing into the corner and Tigers were denied even a consolation point.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 16-12 SAL

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 16-26 SAL

Attendance

20,344

Referee

Luke Pearce

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
16

Full Time

Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
26
Leicester Tigers
P
P
P
T
C
KOHTFT
Sale Sharks
T
T
C
T
C
T
C

Match Stats

Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks
Possession
51%
49%
Territory
49%
51%
Penalties Conceded
8
14
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
128/157 82%
104/117 89%
Scrums Won
7/8 88%
2/3 67%
Lineouts Won
14/17 82%
12/13 92%

Player Stats

Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Freddie Steward
14Harry Potter
13Matt Scott
12Jimmy Gopperth
11Nemani Nadolo
10Freddie Burns1C3P
9Richard Wigglesworth
1James Cronin
2Julian Montoya
3Dan Cole
4Harry Wells
5Calum Green
6George Martin
7Hanro Liebenberg
8Jasper Wiese1T
16Charlie Clare
17Nephi Leatigaga
18Joe Heyes
19Eli Snyman
20Olly Cracknell
21Jack van Poortvliet
22Phil Cokanasiga
23Anthony Watson

Commentary

FINAL WHISTLE

A first home defeat of the season, Leicester Tigers 16-26 Sale Sharks. Jasper Wiese with the Tigers try but Sharks score four to claim bonus-point win. 

72

Missed penalty by Robert du Preez but Sharks still 26-16 in front with 10min to go.

61

Scott, Wiese and Nadolo all within fractions of the tryline as Tigers push forward but still 16-26 on the hour.

The conversion from du Preeze gives Sale a 26-16 lead on 53min.

Bonus-point score for Sale Sharks, with Raffi Quirke in on the left. 16-24.

Robert du Preez converts the Curry try and Sharks lead 16-19 on 50min.

Sharks score a third try and go in front, Tom Curry getting the score. 16-17 on 49min. 

41

Second half begins with Tigers ahead 16-12.;

HALF-TIME

Leicester Tigers 16-12, try from Jasper Wiese and penalties from Freddie Burns versus tries by Tom Roebuck and Robert du Preez.

Fly-half du Preez adds the conversion of his own try, 16-12 Tigers lead on 31min.

Robert du Preez goes to the blindside after a Sharks scrum and scores on the left. 16-10.

Burns adds the conversion from the left touchline, 16-5 on 30min.

JASPER WIESE does what Jasper Wiese does, forcing his way through defenders on the line to score after Potter's charge was stopped just short by Tuilagi. 14-5.

Burns on the mark asgain with a third penalty, 9-3 on 23min.

Penalty for obstruction and Burns kicks to give Tigers a 6-5 lead on 17min.

12

Robert du Preez grazes the outside of the post with the conversion attempt after try by Roebuck so it stays 3-5 on 12min.

Tom Roebuck beats two defenders in the corner to run in and score for Sharks. 3-5.

Break by Harry Potter brings a penalty for Tigers. Burns kicks from the 22, to open the scoring. 3-0 on 7min

KICK-OFF | Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks

The visiting team will get the game started. Tigers are in green shirts and playing towards the Mattioli Woods Stand end in the first half. Here we go…

0

WEATHER CHECK

It's a sunny and mild autumnal afternoon at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

0

TODAY’S OPPOSITION

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Tom O'Flaherty, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Jono Ross, 7 Tom Curry (c), 8 Jean-Luc du Preez

Replacements:  16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Arron Reed

0

HOW TIGERS LINE-UP

STARTING XV: 15 Freddie Steward [58], 14 Harry Potter [44], 13 Matt Scott [49], 12 Jimmy Gopperth [4], 11 Nemani Nadolo [39], 10 Freddie Burns [106], 9 Richard Wigglesworth [38]; 1 James Cronin [4], 2 Julián Montoya [27], 3 Dan Cole [294], 4 Harry Wells [160], 5 Calum Green [93], 6 George Martin [43], 7 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [63], 8 Jasper Wiese [45]

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Charlie Clare [56], 17 Nephi Leatigaga [70], 18 Joe Heyes [104], 19 Eli Snyman [22], 20 Olly Cracknell [4], 21 Jack van Poortvliet [51], 22 Phil Cokanasiga [4], 23 Anthony Watson [1]

0

MATCH PREVIEW | Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks

Leicester Tigers face one of the Gallagher Premiership’s unbeaten teams for a second successive week as Sale Sharks come to Mattioli Woods Welford Road this afternoon.

After travelling to Saracens in Round 4 a week ago, Tigers host a Sale Sharks who have also kicked off the season with three wins including two with maximum points.

Julián Montoya and Jasper Wiese make their first club appearance of the season, with Freddie Steward running out on home ground for the first time since last season’s Premiership semi-final.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Steward. “I haven’t had the opportunity to play at Mattioli Woods Welford Road yet so it will be nice to be back out there in a Leicester Tigers shirt with the fans. It is something I have missed and it will be good to have that again.”

Sale have lost just one of their last seven meetings with the Tigers in Premiership Rugby – in this equivalent fixture last October when Hanro Liebenberg claimed the decisive try.

Bevan Rodd makes his first start of the season in the Sale front row, while fellow prop Nic Schonert returns from suspension. Manu Tuilagi starts at centre against his former club and lock Cobus Wiese lines up opposite his older brother.

Referee is Luke Pearce, in charge for a 133rd time in the Premiership.

0

WELCOME TO MATCHDAY LIVE!

Wherever you are today, you can keep up to date with the Tigers action from the Gallagher Premiership Round 5 fixture against Sale Sharks with Matchday Live on the Tigers App and website at www.leicestertigers.com. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Joe Carpenter
14
Tom Roebuck
13
Sam James
12
Manu Tuilagi
11
Tom O'Flaherty
10
Robert du Preez
9
Gus Warr
1
Bevan Rodd
2
Akker van der Merwe
3
Nic Schonert
4
Cobus Wiese
5
Jonny Hill
6
Jono Ross
7
Tom Curry
8
Jean-Luc du Preez

Replacements

16
Ewan Ashman
17
Simon McIntyre
18
Coenie Oosthuizen
19
Josh Beaumont
20
Sam Dugdale
21
Raffi Quirke
22
Sam Hill
23
Arron Reed

Team News | Tigers side to play Sharks

Figure image

Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Sale Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday (October 8) in Round 5 of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season.

Hanro Liebenberg captains the side with Dan Cole and Richard Wigglesworth named as vice-captains for just the second home game of the league campaign.

Wigglesworth will make his first start of the season, in his second appearance, after coming off the bench in Round 1.

Matt Scott returns to the starting line-up for the first time since Round 2, while Harry Potter, Nemani Nadolo and Calum Green are included after missing the Round 4 trip to Saracens.

Scott will make his 50th Leicester Tigers appearance.

Julián Montoya and Jasper Wiese will make their first appearances of the season after returning from international duty.

Anthony Watson, who made his Leicester Tigers senior debut in London last weekend, is in line for his first Premiership appearance for the club at Mattioli Woods Welford Road after being named on the bench.

Nephi Leatigaga, who is also inclued among the replacements, is in line for his first league appearance of the 2022/23 campaign.

STARTING XV:
15 Freddie Steward [58]
14 Harry Potter [44]
13 Matt Scott [49]
12 Jimmy Gopperth [4]
11 Nemani Nadolo [39]
10 Freddie Burns [106]
9 Richard Wigglesworth (vc) [38]
1 James Cronin [4]
2 Julián Montoya [27]
3 Dan Cole (vc) [294]
4 Harry Wells [160]
5 Calum Green [93]
6 George Martin [43]
7 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [63]
8 Jasper Wiese [45]

REPLACEMENTS:
16 Charlie Clare [56]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [70]
18 Joe Heyes [104]
19 Eli Snyman [22]
20 Olly Cracknell [4]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [51]
22 Phil Cokanasiga [4]
23 Anthony Watson [1]

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Tom O'Flaherty, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Jono Ross, 7 Tom Curry (c), 8 Jean-Luc du Preez

Replacements:  16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Arron Reed

posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
2
Sale Sharks
Sale SharksSAL201406576435141755310369
3
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI2011185604907073669459
Form Guide
Form
LWWLL
Last Match
Lost to Gloucester Rugby 25-27
Past Meeting
Lost 17-24
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
LLLLL
Last Match
Lost to Bath Rugby 24-42
Past Meeting
Won 24-17

Matchday Live

Leicester Tigers16
Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks26
Sale Sharks
Full Time