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Match report: Tigers keep it tight in Paris

Figure image

Leicester Tigers took a bonus point in a 22-18 defeat against Racing 92 in the opening game of the club’s 21st European Cup campaign at the Stade Yves Du Manoir in Paris on Saturday.

A try from Luke Hamilton in the opening minutes gave Tigers a perfect start in Pool 4 of the European Champions Cup, but Racing showed their ruthlessness as well as their physical strength in adding three first-half tries in response with man-of-the-match Leone Nakarawa involved in all three as they built a 19-10 lead.

Tigers, though, fought back with a seventh try of the season for Jonnny May shortly before half-time to cut the deficit to just four points.

The second half remained just as tight with a penalty from Racing stretching their lead but neither side able to finish off the opportunities created before George Ford’s penalty with just three minutes remaining brought Tigers back within reach at 22-18.

Head coach Matt O’Connor recalled Graham Kitchener to the starting line-up after an eye injury, with Hamilton, Telusa Veainu, Ben Youngs, Ellis Genge, Tom Youngs, Mike Williams and Matt Smith all back in the XV while Nick Malouf makes his European Cup debut after three tries in his first six appearances for the club.

Tigers kicked off, facing into the autumnal sunshine, and the match was just three minutes old when Hamilton provided the opening score.

A tap penalty from scrum-half Youngs initiated an attack from halfway and, although it looked like the opportunity had gone after a loose pass from George Ford, Malouf picked up again and charged into the Racing 22 and Hamilton timed his run perfectly to burst through a gap and score. Ford added the extras for an early seven-point lead.

South Africa international Patrick Lambie was added to the Racing backline just a few minutes later as Juan Imhoff limped off, and Tigers maintained their pressure in possession and then Joe Rokocoko into conceding a lineout five metres from his own line. The visitors failed to execute off the lineout, though, and Racing cleared.

Racing threatened for the first time on 11 minutes with a break by Lambie but Tigers latched on to loose ball and survived the scare when Ford cleared.

Tigers were then penalised at a breakdown just as they were looking to start a counter-attack but Racing scrum-half Teddy Iribaren kicked wide from 45 metres.

The home side, however, were starting to build a head of steam and claimed three tries in the space of just 11 minutes.

First, they were denied by the TMO when they were held up over the line with Census Johnston in possession. Although the verdict was no try, play remained five metres out from the Tigers tryline and Racing made the most of the put-in at the scrum and quick recycling for Nakarawa to reach out and plant the ball down one-handed on the right. The conversion from Iribaren levelled the scores with 22 minutes gone.

Tigers had an immediate response when Ford added a penalty from just outside the Racing 22 after some big carries among the forwards as Tigers led 10-7.

But Racing used their physical strength to score again and take the lead for the first time with a try from Bernard Le Roux after Nakarawa had again managed to offload in contact. The referee had to check the footage again before awarding the score, with the conversion making it 14-10 with just under 30 minutes played.

Another score quickly followed as Nakarawa popped a pass out to the right where Tigers were short-handed and scrum-half Iribaren lifted the scoring pass out for wing Teddy Thomas to run in and stretch the lead to 19-10.

The hosts were quickly down to 14 men when centre Virimi Vakatawa was sin-binned for a high tackle on Malouf after a 50-metre break by Veainu and Tigers made the most of the chance with a second try.

The forwards provided a platform for the attack and Toomua’s passed the ball out for May to score on the left. Ford was unable to add the extras from wide on the left but Tigers were back within striking distance at 19-15.

Good work from Williams, charging up the left, and then two big interventions from Sione Kalamafoni looked to have created another score, but Matt Smith had the ball dislodged from his grasp as he attempted to reach into the left-hand corner in the last action of the half with the hosts still four points in front.

Racing had the chance to fire the first shots in the second half when Tigers were penalised for a high tackle on Remi Tales on halfway, but Iribaren was well short of the posts with the kick.

As Tigers cleared up to halfway, though, the Paris side used the lineout to launch an attack which almost took No8 Yannick Nyanga almost to the tryline, only to lose the ball forward with support on his left.

Hamilton cleared up some loose ball just outside the Tigers 22 and, with Smith, in support, took play up to halfway, but could not get the ball back to recycle and Racing had the put-in at a scrum just as they changed two-thirds of their front row.

Scrum-half Iribaren created a half-chance a he chipped ahead and loose ball had the Tigers defence chasing back, but play was called back for a knock-on, to the displeasure of the home crowd.

Tigers escaped a good chance after 51 minutes after Vakatawa broke a series of tackles on the left, but Toomua won the race for the ball after the chip into the corner and, after checking a series of replays, the referee restarted play with a 22 drop-out for the visitors.

Nakarawa had the home crowd in good voice again as he reached over the defence to offload ball on halfway before Hamilton stepped in with a superb interception from Iribaren’s looped pass and Ford cleared back up into French territory.

But Tigers couldn’t build from there, with Lambie kicking a penalty for Racing down their right-hand touchline. The whistle went again with Tigers offside after the lineout, and replacement Maxime Machenaud had an immediate impact as he kicked from the 10-metre line for a 22-15 lead just short of the hour mark.

Brendon O’Connor and Mathew Tait left the bench on 60 minutes with Williams and Smith making way after a big shift and shortly afterwards quick thinking in the Tigers backline almost created another score for May, with two defenders shutting him out in the left-hand corner just out of reach of the tryline.

There was still a chance when Racing gave away a free-kick at a defensive scrum, only for Tigers to then be penalised at the resulting set-piece five metres out.

Tigers made changes in the front row as the game entered the final 15 minutes with George McGuigan’s introduction followed by opportunities for Greg Bateman and Pat Cilliers with much of the period spent in the middle third of the pitch.

Dan Tuohy replaced Kitchener with eight minutes remaining and his first involvement saw the Tigers scrum win a penalty on the edge of their own 22, with Ford taking play up to halfway with the kick to the left.

Tigers kept Racing in their own half and gave Ford the chance to chip away at Racing’s lead when Camille Chat dumped Cilliers with a dangerous tackle. The kick made it 22-18 with 77 minutes gone on the clock.

There was time for one more attack from Racing who were chasing a bonus-point try. They were handed a penalty just near halfway and Lambie chipped the kick to the touchline on their right. But Tigers remained tight in defence, making their shots and getting back in line, before Vakatawa’s knock-on brought the game to a close.

Tigers are back in Pool 4 action with a home game against Castres Olympique on Saturday, October 21. Kick-off is at 5.30pm and tickets are available now.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

RAC 19-15 LEI

FT ScoreFull Time Score

RAC 22-18 LEI

Attendance

9,333

Referee

John Lacey

Racing 92
Racing 92
22

Full Time

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
18
Racing 92
T
C
T
C
T
P
KOHTFT
Leicester Tigers
T
C
P
T
P

Match Stats

Racing 92
Leicester Tigers
Possession
52%
48%
Territory
49%
51%
Penalties Conceded
6
10
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
114/126 90%
129/147 88%
Scrums Won
7/8 88%
6/6 100%
Lineouts Won
15/16 94%
10/11 91%

Player Stats

Racing 92
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Telusa Veainu
14Nick Malouf
13Matt Smith
12Matt Toomua
11Jonny May1T
10George Ford1C2P
9Ben Youngs
1Ellis Genge
2Tom Youngs
3Dan Cole
4Dom Barrow
5Graham Kitchener
6Mike Williams
71T
8Sione Kalamafoni
16George McGuigan
17Greg Bateman
18
19Dan Tuohy
20Brendon O'Connor
21Ben White
22Joe Ford
23Mathew Tait

Commentary

80

Castres next up for the Tigers

Tigers welcome Castres Olympique to Welford Road next Saturday for a Round 2 clash in the Champions Cup. See you there!

80

Tigers take a point from group opener

Tigers defended resolutely and had their moments in attack, and have a bonus point to take back to Welford Road for their efforts.

Full-time in Paris

Tigerish defence in the closing stages sees Tigers claim a losing bonus-point from their trip to Paris. Racing unable to get that fourth score for their bonus.

79

Penalty against Tigers

It's Racing who have the chance to finish strongly as they put a penalty to the Tigers 22m line. Big defensive set required.

78

Toomua to touch

Toomua show plenty of composure to field the kick-off and find touch on the Racing 10m line. Can Tigers find one last attack?

Ford kicks the goal

Cilliers is okay after dusting himself down. Ford lands his kick to bring Tigers to within four points. Come on Tigers

76

Tip tackle

Cilliers is dumped on his back by a big hit in midfield. Referee Lacey says it's only a penalty.

Tuohy's Euro debut for Tigers

Dan Tuohy is on for Kitchener for his European debut. Tigers win the scrum penalty, meanwhile, and Ford can find touch around halfway.

73

Knock-on

Is that fatigue catching up with the hosts? They had Tigers under pressure around their 22 but Le Roux spills the ball and Leicester have the put-in.

70

Into the last 10 minutes ...

... we're into the final 10 minutes in Paris and still everything to play for. Allez les Tigres!

Front row replacements for Tigers

Bateman and Cilliers come on for Genge and Cole after a cracking shift from both England men

67

Penalty against Leicester

... Kitchener looks to be taken out in the air, but referee Lacey says the offence is against the Leicester man for holding on as he hits the floor.

66

Tigers scrum penalty

Tigers win the scrum penalty and go to the corner again ... 

65

Another Tigers chance

... Ford and Toomua combine again to put May in space on the left but Thomas gets across to make a last-ditch tackle. Scrum to Racing on their line.

63

Tigers lineout

A penalty on halfway is just out of Ford's range but he finds touch 10m out ...

Tigers changes

It's Smith's last involvement. He has run himself into the ground and is replaced by Mat Tait. Mike Williams has tackled himself into the ground and is replaced by Brendon O'Connor.

61

Tigers possession

Tigers enjoy their first period of possession of this second half. Ford's kick keeps Machenaud honest and his clearance is charged into touch by Smith. Lineout to Racing 10m from their line.

Racing extend their lead to seven

Machenaud's first involvement is to land the penalty from 40m to move Racing seven points up.

60

Tense times

The tension is rising around Stade Yves du Manoir as the two teams hammer away at each other. Tigers are pinged for going offside to give Racing a chance to add to their score for the first time his half

Change at scrum-half for Racing

Racing bring on the experienced Maxime Machenaud for Iribaren at scrum-half.

First Tigers change

George McGuigan on for skipper Tom Youngs, who has led from the front. Play will restart with a Racing lineout 30m from their line.

55

Sticky period

Tigers are having to weather the storm in a sun-drenched Paris. Racing keep piling forward but Tigers defended stoutly.

54

Good thinking by Toomua

Tigers struggle to deal with Vakatawa down the middle but TOomua is alert to the kick through and dots down in-goal for the 22 drop-out. Good work Matt

52

Knock-on to Tigers aid

Tigers defend well and turnover ball but cannot seal possession. Instead, Nyanga knocks-on as he piles into Ford to give Tigers scrum put-in on their 22

Racing changes

Racing bring on front-row replacements in Chat and Ben Arous. Tigers currently with the same XV that started.

47

Free-kick at the scrum

Tigers get the free-kick at the resulting scrum for an early engagement. Ford's kick takes play to the 10m line.

46

Lucky Tigers

Tigers breath a huge sigh as Racing offload their way into the Tigers 22, but Chouzenous can't collect with the line beckoning. A let-off

45

Poor penalty

... but Iribaren is well short with his kick from close to halfway, Veainu fields and finds touch.

44

Penalty to Racing

Genge penalised for a high tackle on fly-half Tales, and Racing have the first chance of the second half

43

No let up in the second half

The second half begins at the same high speed as the first ...

40

Second half about to start

The teams are back out in Paris. The second-half is about to get underway, with Racing 92 kicking off.

40

Yellow peril

Racing will still have four minutes on the yellow card to negotiate at the start of the second half. Can Tigers make the man advantage count?

40

Heat is on in Paris

It's been a red-hot first half in Paris, and the pace of the game and the temperature is bound to tell in the last quarter.

40

More on the Smith chance

Full marks to Census Johnston, the Racing tighthead, who somehow got across to tackle Smith as he reached out. It could be a defining moment ...

That's half-time

A full-bloodied first half that has ebbed and flowed comes to an end. Hamilton at the start of the half and May (who else) at the end score for Tigers, Nakarawa, Le Roux and Thomas in between for the hosts.

40

Scrum time

With half-time approaching, Racing have the scrum on their line to negotiate. 

40

So close!

Smith is inches from scoring but loses the ball in contact as he reaches for the line

39

More on May's try

After the yellow, Ford went to the corner. Tigers secured their ball and it was Toomua's brilliant pass that gave May the opportunity to force his way past Pat Lambie and score his seventh in seven games.

39

Conversion wide

Ford is unable to add the extras from wide on the left. But what a response by the Tigers to those Racing tries.

Try time Tigers!

It's that man Jonny May with another brilliant finish to drag Tigers back into the game!

Stunning counterattack

Matt Toomua's brilliant pass cuts out Virimi Vakatawa and allows Veainu to stretch his legs. Malouf continues the charge and is tackled high by Vakatawa, who receives a yellow card.

34

Conversion missed

Iribaren strikes the post with his conversion and the ball goes wide. Can Tigers respond before half-time?

Racing running riot

Racing have moved up a couple of gears and punish Tigers with a third try. This time Teddy Thomas the extra man to dot down on the left.

It's a try

There's a suspicion of a knock-on but referee Lacey is satisfied the try is good. Iribaren converts and Racing lead for the first time in the game.

27

Hold on!

Referee Lacey has gone to his TMO. Has he spotted something to rule out the try?

Try number two for Racing

Racing have Tigers in trouble at a lineout drive and Le Roux goes over to score ...

Tigers retake the lead

Racing make a mess of the restart and Tigers win the penalty. Ford lands his kick to give Leicester a 10-7 lead.

All square

Iribaren adds the conversion from out wide and we're level at Stade Yves du Manoir 

Try to the hosts

The pressure finally tells and Racing have their try. Tigers resisted through five phases off the scrum but eventually the long arms of Leone Nakarawa reached out to score out wide on the right.

18

No try!

Great last-ditch defence by the Tigers getting bodies under prop Viliami Afatia to stop him touching down. 5m scrum to Racing.

17

TMO time

Racing think they have the try under the posts after securing quick ball at a series of rucks. Referee Lacey has gone to his TMO ...

15

Missed penalty

However, scrum-half Teddy Iribaren pushes his kick across the posts and Tigers retain their seven-point lead

14

First mistake from Tigers

It's been a cracking start for Tigers, but Dom Barrow knocks-on and then holsd the ball in the tackle to concede a penalty 45m out

12

Racing threaten

Racing threaten for the first time in the game, taking play from their own half to the Tigers 22 where Veainu blocks the kick through and Tigers counterattack. Ford finds a great touch 10m from the Racing line

8

Hamilton is everywhere

That man Hamilton heavily involved in the early stages, bumping the midfield defence to the floor to put Tigers on the attack again

6

Racing look rattled

The experienced Joe Rokocoko juggles Ford's angled kick and puts a foot in touch to give Tigers lineout ball in their 22.

4

More on the try

Ben Youngs caught Racing napping with a tap penalty in the Leicester half. Matt Smith made further ground and with Racing struggling to regroup Hamilton breezed through to score next to the posts.

Conversion added

George Ford adds a simple conversion and Tigers have made the perfect start

What a start

... Tigers enjoy quick ball and work the opening for Hamilton to stroll through to score an early try. Great stuff

2

Quick penalty

Ben Youngs taps a quick penalty and gets Tigers bursting forwards ... 

Kick-off

George Ford will get us underway under clear skies and bright sunshine 

0

Champions Cup theme

The now familiar Champions Cup theme tune strikes up ... the teams are about to come out

0

Shouty PA man

And if the Ultras are not enough, the PA man is doing his best to whip the home support up! 

0

Racing Ultras

Racing's noisy hardcore of supporters are right next to us in the Stade Yves du Manoir, banging their drums and blowing their whistles. Let's hope they have little to cheer this afternoon

0

Teams head to the changing rooms

That's the warm-ups done. The teams are back in the changing rooms for final prep.

0

Warm-up in the warm

The Tigers warm-up is underway in bright sunshine, clear blue skies and temperatures pushing the mid-20s. The heat could be a factor later in the game ...

0

Sporting icon

The setting for today's game, Stade Yves du Manoir, is a historic venue beyond the world of rugby. Read all about it before kick-off at https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/fans-make-olympic-pilgrimage-in-paris

0

Tigers a Paris

Welcome to the Stade Yves du Manoir for this afternoon's Champions Cup Round 1 game between Racing 92 and Tigers


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Juan Imhoff
14
Teddy Thomas
13
Virimi Vakatawa
12
Henry Chavancy
11
Joe Rokocoko
10
Remi Tales
9
Teddy Iribaren
1
Viliamu Afatia
2
Dimitri Szarzewski
3
Census Johnston
4
5
Leone Nakarawa
6
Wenceslas Lauret
7
Baptiste Chouzenoux
8
Yannick Nyanga

Replacements

16
Camille Chat
17
Eddy Ben Arous
18
Cedate Gomes Sa
19
Manuel Carizza
20
21
Maxime Machenaud
22
Pat Lambie
23
Anthony Tuitavake
posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
2
Racing 92
Racing 92RAC64021281052314101219
4
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI6105118171-531219127

Leicester Tigers head to Paris and the historic home of the 1924 Olympic Games at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir for the start of the European Champions Cup on Saturday.

European Cup finalists in 2016, Racing 92 host the Tigers in the opening fixture in Pool 4 with kick-off at 3.15pm UK time/4.15pm in Paris.

Tigers enter the club’s 21st season of top-flight European competition with a record of 92 victories from their previous 144 fixtures in the competition and with wins in their last four Aviva Premiership matches after defeat in the opening two rounds.

Racing, who reached the European Cup Final in 2016 after beating Tigers in the semi-final in Nottingham, were beaten at La Rochelle in the TOP14 last weekend. They have won three and lost four in the first phase of games in their domestic competition, including an opening weekend triumph against Castres Olympique who are also in their European pool and travel to Welford Road in Round 2.

Head coach Matt O’Connor said: “Racing have a fantastic squad, they are combative and very dangerous if you’re a bit loose. But what we have done in the last couple of weeks is reinforce the mentality of what it takes to win at the top level.

“A lot of the group were over there in Paris last year when we got beaten quite badly and we understand how much better we have to be to get a result.

“The intensity of how you play all the way is very important in Europe with just six games before you get to the knockouts. That makes every point massive.”

Team news was announced by both camps on Friday lunchtime, with Tigers recalling Graham Kitchener after injury, and welcoming Telusa Veainu and Ben Youngs back after illness led to their withdrawal from the line-up to face London Irish last weekend.

Racing include Remi Tales at fly-half with South Africa international Pat Lambie on the bench, though there is no place for Dan Carter. Joe Rokocoko and Juan Imhoff, who both starred in the semi-final between the clubs in 2016, are included in the backline.

The clubs have met just three times previously in the European Cup, all in the last two seasons with Racing winning a semi-final in Nottingham 2015/16 and both sides winning their home game in 2016/17.

In last season’s meeting in Paris, Tigers were beaten 34-3, the team’s heaviest defeat against TOP 14 opposition.

Racing have won three of their last four home games against Premiership opposition after defeat in each of their first four encounters with English sides in the competition.

Referee for Saturday is John Lacey from Ireland, assisted by countrymen Stuart Gaffikin and Paul Haycock. Television match official is Peter Fitzgibbon.

Tigers will be in the club’s home green kit in Paris on Saturday.

Form Guide
Form
LLLLW
Last Match
Beat Cardiff Blues 48-26
Past Meeting
Won 34-11
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
LWWLL
Last Match
Lost to Gloucester Rugby 25-27
Past Meeting
Lost 11-34

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Leicester Tigers18
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