Leicester Tigers have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup after defeating Edinburgh Rugby 16-6 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Handré Pollard finished with 11 points from the tee, after landing three penalty-goals and one conversion, while Jasper Wiese was the lone try-scorer.
It took just five minutes for the first points of the night when Handré Pollard put the home side ahead 3-0 when Edinburgh were penalised within range for the Leicester fly-half.
Both sides traded blows in a physical first quarter before Pollard had another chance to add three, which went wide, in the 19th minute meaning the lead was just 3-0 at half-time.
Wigglesworth went to his bench during the break when he brought Jasper Wiese on in place of Olly Cracknell in the back-row and the No.8 had an immediate impact, which resulted in him receiving the Heineken Star of the Match award in just 40 minutes.
The scores were level after just three minutes of second-half action when Edinburgh were gifted a chance for three points in front of the posts and Emiliano Boffellin sent his first attempt successfully over the crossbar.
Edinburgh's full-back took his side into the lead, 3-6, with half an hour remaining before Wiese, with some fancy footwork and a memorable finish in the corner, crossed in the 51st minute before Pollard added the extras with a sideline conversion to make it 10-6.
The Scottish side missed a chance to make it a one-point game in the 55th minute when a penalty-goal attempt hit the posts and Pollard, in the 60th and 70th minutes, secured the 10-point victory with his final two penalty-goals.
Commentary
FULL-TIME | TIGERS 16 - 6 EDINBURGH
The final whistle blows here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and Leicester Tigers have advanced to the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals!
Jasper Wiese's rampaging try added to Handré Pollards cool conversion and trio of penalties to secure the win for the home side
75
JUST FIVE MINUTES LEFT
Tigers win a vital turnover on half-way as we edge into the final few minutes
SUBSTITUTION FOR LEICESTER TIGERS
Eli Snyman comes on in the second-row, replacing Cameron Henderson
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
Jamie Ritchie infringes centrally and just inside the away sides 22 and Pollard needs no further invitation, slotting the penalty and extending Tigers lead by another three points
SUBSTITUTION FOR EDINBURGH RUGBY
Ben Vellacott comes on for fellow scrum-half Henry Pyrgos
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR EDINBURGH RUGBY
Dave Cherry had entered the field a couple of minutes ago, replacing Stuart McInally, and the two replacement props now join him, Boan Venter and Luan de Bruin coming on for a whole new front-row
63
BEAUTIFUL SPIRAL KICK FROM POLLARD
It's a scrappy scrum and not the cleanest ball but Pollard gathers confidently and sends out a beauty of a low spiral nudge, landing just outside of the Edinburgh 22
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
The fly-half makes no mistake from right in front of the posts and Tigers extend their lead to seven points
56
PENALTY MISSED | EMILIANO BOFFELLI
The full-back sees his penalty ping back off the left hand post and Tigers secure the ball and clear their lines well
SUBSTITUTION FOR LEICESTER TIGERS
Dan Kelly enters the field on his return from injury, replacing Jimmy Gopperth
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Wiese's South African compatriot launches an excellent kick worthy of the try that preceded it, slotting home from way out right
TRY | JASPER WIESE
Sensational score by the substitute.
Edinburgh steal the line-out but Van der Merwe knocks on. The ball spills backward but that only gives Wiese more of a run-up; her barges over one tackler and shows excellent dancing feet to keep himself inside the line despite pressure from Edinburgh. He dots down in the corner and Mattioli Woods Welford Road erupts!
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION FOR LEICESTER TIGERS
James Cronin and Dan Cole make way for Tom West and Joe Heyes respectively
PENALTY | EMILIANO BOFFELLI
The full-back slots another, this time from nearly 40 metres out after Tigers are pinged for offside
PENALTY | EMILIANO BOFFELLI
The Argentine international slots a simple kick from in front of the posts
SUBSTITUTION FOR LEICESTER TIGERS
Jasper Wiese replaces Olly Cracknell at the back of the scrum
THE SECOND HALF BEGINS
It's Blair Kinghorn with the deep restart into Tigers territory
HALF-TIME
Tigers hold a narrow lead thanks to Pollards excellently taken penalty, both sides with strong chances in what has been a well-contested affair
39
Blistering last two minutes
A blistering last couple of minutes sees Darcy Graham almost over after a cheeky grubber through but it goes too far.
A few phases later, with the clock in the red, Edinburgh mishandle the ball and Potter is first to it, just beaten to a grubber of his own before the away side wisely kick it to touch to end the half
35
TENSE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF THE HALF
Edinburgh win a penalty 30 metres out and opt to kick for the corner, a big line-out so close to the line.
Tigers steal the ball however after a couple of phases, running it up before the kicking battle for territory begins. Tigers strike the first blow, a great hit just outside the Edinburgh 22.
However, the away side keep their composure and truck the ball up before a dangerous kick is gathered on the home 22 and Edinburgh fly up to bundle Tigers into touch
29
TOMMY TURNOVER WITH ANOTHER STEAL
Edinburgh build a few phases and the away contingent are abuzz with cries of 'Schoooo' as Pierre Schoeman takes the ball into contact. But, he's brought to ground quickly and there's Tommy Reffell straight over the ball to steal an important penalty for Tigers
18
PENALTY MISSED | Handré Pollard
Handré Pollard has a go from out-wide and 40 metres out and the ball swerves narrowly wide.
A phase later, as Edinburgh try and clear their lines, Tommy Reffell gets in an excellent block and pinball rugby ensues, Tigers inches away from dotting down as the ball skids out the back of the field
14
WEATHER PLAYING ITS PART
The line-out has to be reset a couple of times before a deliberate knock-on is called and Tigers take the tap and go, but knock-on themselves in the process. We have a few phases of kick and chase before Tigers win a penalty in a central position just inside their own half
10
BACK-AND-FORTH MOMENTUM
Tigers making great yards following an uncharacteristic dropped catch from Emiliano Boffelli and advanced to the away sides 22 before Jamie Ritchie won a turnover.
From the kick to touch, however, George Martin rises highest and claims the ball back. It's scrappy play but a resulting scrum is collapsed and Tigers kick the penalty for a line-out just outside Edinburgh's five-metre line
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
It's from the second of these two penalties that Tigers take the first points of the match, Handré Pollard slotting over from 30 metres out in front of the posts
4
TIGERS ON TOP IN OPENING EXCHANGE
Having kicked-off Tigers quickly win the ball back from an Edinburgh spill. Pollard tries a kick over the top and the mark is called but, as Tigers run it back, the home side are awarded successive penalties for offside
WE'RE UNDERWAY AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
The rain cascades down from the heavens and the ball soon joins it, launched high into the night sky by the boot of Handré Pollard as the game gets started
-5
FIVE MINUTES TILL KICK-OFF
It's almost time for knockout rugby! Stop what you're doing and get ready for Heineken Champions Cup action, as Leicester Tigers tackle Edinburgh Rugby
-30
30 MINUTES TO KICK-OFF
It's a wet and windy night here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and there's no place we'd rather be for the first round of 16 match in this year's Heineken Champions Cup!
There's less than 30 minutes to go till your Leicester Tigers take on Edinburgh Rugby so get ready. Get down to the stadium, turn on BT Sport or stay with us here for all the live updates, it's nearly time for some rugby!