Leicester Tigers scored five tries in a 15-point, 29-44 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne in Round 3 of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup.
The victory continues Leicester’s unbeaten run in the European campaign heading into the final round of the pool stages next Friday night against Ospreys at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Matt Scott scored two tries, including the first just three minutes into the game to silence the near 15,000 strong Stade Marcel-Michelin crowd, while Dan Kelly, Harry Simmons and James Cronin each added scores.
Handré Pollard finished with 14 points from the tee, with Jimmy Gopperth adding 5 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
Ben Youngs led the side out in a record-equalling match for the scrum-half which sees him join Geordan Murphy on 74 Heineken Champions Cup appearances for Tigers, while Dan Kelly celebrated his 50th appearance with a try.
Included in the matchday squad were three players - Pollard, Gopperth and Joe Taufete’e - making their first European appearance for Leicester, while Sean Jansen started for the first time in Champions Cup rugby and Emeka Ilione, a week after his first Gallagher Premiership outing, came off the bench for his European debut.
The fixture was the fourth between the two clubs in less than a year, after meeting in last season’s Round of 16, and sixth since their first clash in 2005.
One of rugby’s loudest supporter bases were in typical full voice from before kick-off in Clermont but, after only three minutes, hushed when their backline attempted to go wide from the base of a scrum near halfway and could only watch on as Scott swooped to intercept the attack and run it in from halfway.
Pollard’s first of four conversions meant Tigers led by seven, which remained the difference until the 20th minute when the fly-half landed a penalty-goal attempt to stretch it to 10 points.
The home side hit back to close the gap to three points with their first try of the night, to Bautista Delguy, which Anthony Belleau converted in the 25th minute.
However, once again, the Yellow Army’s volume was significantly lowered when Youngs - with an advantage being played in Leicester’s favour - opted to send a bullet pass to the left wing from a ruck for Simmons, who stepped inside and out again to leave Clermont’s defence in his wake.
Pollard’s conversion from the touchline saw Tigers out to a 10 point lead on the half hour mark, before it was extended to 17 just three minutes later when Kelly crossed at the back of a driving maul.
A man down, after Fritz Lee was shown a yellow card for a high shot on Youngs, Clermont were placed under immense pressure by Leicester’s set piece and - with the help of backs, including Kelly - the visitors pushed their way over from a 5m line out.
Pollard, again from the sideline, added the extra two points to make it 7-24 with just five minutes remaining in the first half.
But, Clermont responded within sixty seconds of the re-start when Etienne Fourcade crossed for the home side’s second and Belleau converted to send the sides into the break 13 points apart.
A try almost immediately after the break for Belleau, which he was unable to convert, meant it was an eight-point game before Pollard’s second penalty-goal of the night stretched it to 11 points and Scott’s second try, which was converted, saw it out to 15 points after 45 minutes.
Scott’s first was all instinct but his second was one placed straight from the playbook.
A line out was brought down, deep inside the Clermont half, and shifted from the back by Youngs to Pollard, who found Freddie Steward on the inside, into space to offload for his centre in support.
The fourth conversion of the night from Pollard made it a 15-point lead with 35 minutes still to play.
After looking likely on a handful of occasions, only to be foiled by the scramble and fight of a Tigers side who refused to let up, Clermont managed to secure a competition point with a fourth try in the 50th minute.
Sending everything down Leicester’s right, they managed to break through in the unlikeliest of ways when second-rower Paul Jedrasiask impersonated an outside-back with speed and a dummy to die for.
The lock’s try and Belleau’s conversion closed the gap to eight points before the Clermont fly-half cut the deficit to five points with nine minutes left on the clock.
With the passionate crowd roaring them home, the wind was at the back of the home side before Leicester looked to have shut down any idea of a comeback with a Gopperth penalty-goal on 75 minutes.
Eight points ahead, with five minutes remaining, the game remained anyone’s before - with just two minutes on the clock - replacement prop James Cronin crashed over from close range after a patient build-up from the visitors.
Gopperth’s conversion with only sixty seconds left meant the difference would be 15 points, finishing 29-44 and seeing Tigers remain undefeated in this season’s European campaign approaching the final round.
Commentary
TIGERS FIGHT FOR WIN IN FRANCE
Leicester Tigers record a famous victory away from home over ASM Clermont Auvergne.
CON | JIMMY GOPPERTH
Jimmy Gopperth converts.
TRY | JAMES CRONIN
Patience from Leicester is rewarded and James Cronin crashes over from close range.
PEN | JIMMY GOPPERTH
A patient build-up of phases in attack is rewarded with three points as Jimmy Goperth lands the attempt to extend the lead to eight points.
PEN | CLERMONT
The home side cut the deficit to just five points with eight minutes left through the boot of Anthony Belleau.
70
SINGLE DIGIT MINUTES
Eight points the difference with just nine minutes left on the clock in Clermont.
65
TIGERS HOLD ON ... FOR NOW
The visitors refuse to let Clermont in after preventing a near-certain score on their line with another massive scramble in defence.
63
BACK TO BACK EFFORTS
Leicester are put under immense pressure, over and over, by Clermont on their line but send the home side away with two huge set piece defensive efforts.
CRACK IS BACK
Olly Cracknell is brought on in the back-row in place of Sean Jansen.
55
SCRAMBLE FROM TIGERS
Leicester forced into scrambling at the back after Clermont find space down the left and do it successfully, forcing an error from the home side before winning a penalty at the scrum to follow.
DOUBLE CHANGE MADE
James Cronin and Harry Potter are on in place of James Whitcombe and Matt Scott.
CON | CLERMONT
Anthony Belleau converts and the difference is just 10 points with half an hour remaining.
TRY | CLERMONT
The home side stretch Tigers in defence and find a hole down the left in attack before crossing through Paul Jedrasiak.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from in front and Leicester's lead is 15 points after 45 minutes.
TRY | MATT SCOTT
A perfectly executed backline move from Tigers slices open the Clermont defence and Matt Scott finishes under the posts.
TRY | CLERMONT
First points of the second half are Clermont's after the home side find space down the left and, despite a scramble from Tigers in defence, the ball bounces into the arms of Anthony Belleau over the line.
BACK IN ACTION
The second-half is underway in Clermont as Anthony Belleau sends the re-start deep into Leicester's half.
TIGERS LEAD AT THE BREAK
Leicester take a 13-point lead into the break in France after an action packed opening to this European fixture.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Another successful attempt from Handré Pollard adds three to the Tigers tally with the final play of the first half.
CON | CLERMONT
The difference is just ten points after a successful conversion from Anthony Belleau.
TRY | CLERMONT
Immediate response from Clermont, who find some space from inside their own half and convert from close range only a few phases later in the corner through Etienne Fourcade.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from out wide to extend the lead to 17 points after 35 minutes.
TRY | DAN KELLY
On the back of a well-executed driving maul from a lineout 5m out from the Clermont line, Dan Kelly crashes over at the back of the pack.
YELLOW | CLERMONT
The home side are down a man for the next 10 minutes after Fritz Lee is shown a yellow card for a high shot on Ben Youngs.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from out wide and Leicester's lead is ten points, 7-17, after half an hour in Clermont.
TRY | HARRY SIMMONS
The dancing feet of Harry Simmons, one pass of the ruck down the left wing sees him step his way through and score in the corner.
CON | CLERMONT
Anthony Belleau converts the Clermont try to close the gap to three points after 26 minutes in France.
TRY | CLERMONT
Playing with an advantage, deep inside Leicester's half, Clermont move the ball quickly to the right and find space down the touchline before an inside pass sends Bautista Delguy over.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Another big defensive effort from Tigers earns a penalty within range for Handré Pollard, who steps up and lands it to see Leicester to a 10-point lead after 21 minutes.
18
TOMMY TURNOVER STEPS UP
Clermont piling on pressure in attack, phase after phase, throwing their big men at the Leicester from just metres out.
Several attempts in and Tommy 'Turnover' Reffell wins possession back with a penalty at the breakdown. Big play after a brave team effort in defence.
12
Leicester on the attack deep inside the Clermont half, with an advantage, but it's called back after a mess at the breakdown and Ben Youngs points to the posts for an attempt at three points.
The attempt at goal swings to the left of the uprights and the home side will have the 22m re-start as the clock ticks past the 13th minute in France.
10
ATTACK FOILED
Tigers go wide with a set piece play from the first phase off a scrum, 5m out from the Clermont line, but Freddie Steward is turned over and a penalty won by the home side at the breakdown.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from in front and Leicester Tigers lead by seven after just four minutes in France.
TRY | MATT SCOTT
Clermont look to move the ball wide, quickly, from the set piece on halfway and Matt Scott swoops on a long pass to run it in and score under the posts!
UNDERWAY IN CLERMONT
Handré Pollard gets tonight's fixture - and Round 3 of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup - underway at Stade Marcel-Michelin!