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Report | Tigers suffer last-gasp defeat

Figure image

A 92nd minute converted try to Ospreys Rugby handed Leicester Tigers their first defeat of the 20222/3 Heineken Champions pool stages on Friday evening.

After holding out Ospreys for 12 minutes following the conclusion of regular time, a try to Jac Morgan from the base of the ruck - and conversion from Owen Williams - sealed the result for the Welsh visitors in front of almost 20,000 fans at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Nothing separated the sides at half-time, level at 13-all, before two second-half scores from Ospreys helped secure the away win.

The home side were the first to register points, just four minutes into the match, when Handré Pollard kicked the first of what would be six successful attempt from the Leicester fly-half.

Ospreys got on the scoreboard in the 11th minute with a try to Dewi Lake at the back of a driving maul from close range and full-back Cai Evans converted to see them lead by four points, 3-7.

Jack van Poortvliet had the Mattioli Woods Welford Road crowd on their feet in the 15th minute when he crossed for the home side’s first and Pollard converted to make the lead 10-7.

The Tigers scrum-half popped a well weighted pass up for Harry Simmons, who appeared to have scored Leicester’s second in the 19th minute, after the left wing swerved his way through the Ospreys defence to dive over under the posts.

However, TMO intervention scrubbed the score from the board after it was deemed to have been held up.

Play was brought back to near halfway and Pollard added three points to extend the lead to 13-7 on the 20 minute mark.

Just five minutes later, Ospreys responded with a penalty-goal of their own to Williams to make the difference three points.

Forced to defend for much of the final 10 minutes of the first-half, Tigers continued to send Ospreys away before the pressure mounted and infringements piled up from the home side.

With seconds remaining before the break, Williams stepped up to level the scores at 13 a piece at half-time.

After being denied in the first-half, there was no question marks when Simmons dived over in the 49th minute after injecting himself into a backline move to the right hand side in attack.

On the back of a monstrous effort from the pack, the left wing ran through untouched from 10m out and Pollard converted to see Tigers out to a 20-13 lead.

Piling pressure on in attack, Tigers looked likely for another before the ball went to ground out wide and Ospreys pounced.

The loose ball was toed ahead and bounced up into the hands of Keelan Giles, who raced away to score under the posts.

Williams converted and, again, the sides were level.

Pollard kick two successive penalty-goals in the 67th and 70th minutes to put Tigers ahead, 26-20, before the home side were forced to defend for almost the remainder of the game.

The TMO was called upon on back-to-back occasions as Tigers continued to fight for every inch.

Dan Richardson was shown a yellow card in the dying stages, bringing James Whitcombe back onto the field, and Ospreys persistence paid off when Morgan was ruled to have scored in the 92nd minute after a long-waited deliberation from the officials on the field and in the video box.

Williams conversion from near in front sealed the win for Ospreys, 26-27.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 13-13 OSP

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 26-27 OSP

Attendance

Not available

Referee

Tual Trainini

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
26

Full Time

Ospreys Rugby
Ospreys Rugby
27
Leicester Tigers
P
T
C
P
T
C
P
P
KOHTFT
Ospreys Rugby
T
C
P
P
T
C
T
C

Match Stats

Leicester Tigers
Ospreys Rugby
Possession
50%
50%
Territory
56%
44%
Penalties Conceded
14
14
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
166/188 88%
155/171 91%
Scrums Won
1/2 50%
6/7 86%
Lineouts Won
12/15 80%
13/15 87%

Player Stats

Leicester Tigers
Ospreys Rugby
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Freddie Steward
14Harry Potter
13Matt Scott
12Dan Kelly
11Harry Simmons1T
10Handre Pollard2C4P
9Jack van Poortvliet1T
1James Whitcombe
2Charlie Clare
3Dan Cole
4Ollie Chessum
5Cameron Henderson
6Hanro Liebenberg
7Tommy Reffell
8Olly Cracknell
16Julian Montoya
17Dan Richardson
18Will Hurd
19Harry Wells
20Sean Jansen
21Ben Youngs
22Jimmy Gopperth
23Charlie Atkinson

Commentary

OSPREYS STEAL IT AT THE DEATH

A last-gasp win for Ospreys sees them defeat Leicester Tigers, 26-27, at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

CON | OSPREYS

Owen Williams converts the last-minute try.

TRY | OSPREYS

After checking with the TMO, Ospreys are ruled to have scored and trail by one point with a kick to come.

80

CHECKING ... AGAIN

The TMO is again called upon after a pile of bodies is formed over the line.

Held up or try? Waiting to find out...

80

CHECKING UPSTAIRS

The TMO is called upon as Ospreys go over in the corner... but Dan Kelly looks to have prevented the score.

However, we're going back for a penalty at the scrum prior and Dan Richardson is shown a yellow card, taking Tigers down to 14 men.

79

PHASE AFTER PHASE AFTER PHASE

Leicester continue to be tested in defence by Ospreys, with the clock in the red, on their line.

DAN'S DEBUT

Dan Richardson is brought on, for his European debut, in place of James Whitcombe in the front-row.

76

TIGERS HOLD ON (AND UP)

After TMO checks, an Ospreys try is denied from some solid ruck defence by Leicester ... but we're going back for a penalty to Ospreys, who will kick for the corner.

74

OSPREYS ON THE ATTACK

The visitors piling on pressure in attack, deep inside the Tigers half, with just five minutes on the clock ... and six points behind.

YOUNGS ON FOR JVP

Ben Youngs is brought on at scrum-half for Jack van Poortvliet with just 10 minutes left on the clock at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. 

PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD

A second penalty-goal for Handré Pollard, in as many minutes, extends the Leicester lead to six points with 10 minutes remaining.

PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD

Handré Pollard's boot puts Tigers into the lead, by three points, with thirteen minutes remaining after a HUGE scrum penalty from the pack.

HURD ON FOR COLE

Will Hurd is brought on in the front-row at tighthead in place of Dan Cole on the hour mark.

CON | OSPREYS

Scores are level again at Mattioli Woods Welford Road after a successful conversion attempt from in front for Ospreys.

TRY | OSPREYS

The visitors go the length of the field after a long pass in attack from the home side hits the deck and Ospreys pounce, kicking ahead for Keelan Giles to chase down and run it in under the posts.

MONTOYA RETURNS

The first change of the night for the home is made as Julián Montoya replaces Charlie Clare at hooker.

CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD

Handré Pollard converts and Tigers lead by seven points approaching the 50th minute at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

TRY | HARRY SIMMONS

After being denied one in the first-half, Harry Simmons dives over for a try after interjecting himself in a beautifully executed backline move to the right.

41

SECOND-HALF GETS GOING

We are back underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for the second-half.

ALL LEVEL IN LEICESTER

The sides head back to the rooms level, 13-13, at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

PEN | OSPREYS

Owen Williams levels the scores with a penalty-goal on the stroke of half-time.

35

TOMMY TURNOVER AT IT AGAIN

Tommy Reffell follows up Dan Cole's defensive effort with one of his own, after Ospreys get back possession, and wins a penalty at the breakdown on halfway with a strong solo effort. 

34

COLE HOLDS ON

The home side are peppering Tigers on their line but Dan Cole forces the referee into a penalty against the attacking side with a brilliant steal at the breakdown.

30

HALF AN HOUR DOWN

Possession is split 50/50 after half an hour at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

PEN | OSPREYS

Owen Williams makes the difference just three points with a successful penalty-goal attempt on the 25 minute mark.

PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD

After having a try overturned, play is brought back from an advantage being played and Handré Pollard steps up to add three points and extend the lead to six points after 20 minutes.

19

TRY OVERTURNED

Harry Simmons comes flying in from the left wing on a short line off Jack van Poortvliet and runs it in to dive over and score ... but the TMO intervenes and the decision is overturned. 

CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD

Handré Pollard converts and Leicester Tigers lead 10-7 after 16 minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. 

TRY | JACK VAN POORTVLIET

Jack van Poortvliet dives over after breaking from the back of a dominant driving maul from a 5m lineout.

14

TIGERS IN PRIMIE POSITION

Back-to-back penalties against Ospreys gift the home side a chance, deep inside the away side's end of the field.

CON | OSPREYS

Ospreys full-back Cai Evans converts and the visitors lead by four, 3-7, after 12 minutes. 

TRY | OSPREYS

Ospreys drive their lineout maul over for the first try of the night, with Dewi Lake the man at the back of the pack to dot it down. 

8

CHANCES FOR THE VISITORS

Back-to-back opportunities deep inside the Leicester Tigers half for Ospreys after back-to-back penalties gift them territory.

PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD

First points of the night are for the home side as Handré Pollard sends his first attempt straight through the posts from 40m out.

UNDERWAY IN LEICESTER

Round 4 of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup pool stages is underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Cai Evans
14
Alex Cuthbert
13
Michael Collins
12
Joe Hawkins
11
Keelan Giles
10
Owen Williams
9
Reuben Morgan-Williams
1
Nicky Smith
2
Dewi Lake
3
Tom Botha
4
Adam Beard
5
Alun Wyn Jones
6
Rhys Davies
7
Justin Tipuric
8
Jac Morgan

Replacements

16
Scott Baldwin
17
Gareth Thomas
18
Rhys Henry
19
Huw Owen-Sutton
20
Morgan Morris
21
Matthew Aubrey
22
Keiran Williams
23
George North

Team News | Tigers side to play Ospreys

Figure image

Richard Wigglesworth has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Ospreys Rugby in Round 4 of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup pool stages.

Club captain Hanro Liebenberg returns to lead the side on Friday night at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Dan Cole and Jack van Poortvliet named vice-captains.

Cole also returns to the matchday squad after missing the Round 3 away win over ASM Clermont Auvergne and van Poortvliet starts after featuring off the bench in last Friday’s victory in France.

Up front, Cole is named alongside fellow prop James Whitcombe and Charlie Clare in the starting front-row.

Ollie Chessum, who started the last round in the back-row, shifts to lock to partner Cameron Henderson in the second-row.

Liebenberg and Tommy Reffell are the flankers and Olly Cracknell, who came off the bench in Clermont, is promoted to No.8 in the starting pack.

In his first appearance at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Handré Pollard is named with van Poortvliet as the half-back pairing.

Dan Kelly and Matt Scott make up the midfield, while Harry Simmons and Harry Potter are the wings and Freddie Steward returns to full-back.

The match will be the 50th starting appearance for Potter.

On the Leicester Tigers bench, Julián Montoya is included for the first time in more than a month and Dan Richardson is in line for his European debut.

Will Hurd, Harry Wells and Sean Jansen are the remaining forwards, while Ben Youngs, Jimmy Gopperth and Charlie Atkinson are the replacements backs.

Youngs, if used, will become the club’s most-capped player in Heineken Champions Cup rugby after equalling Geordan Murphy’s record of 74 appearances in Europe’s top-tier competition in the last round.

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [66]
14 Harry Potter [55]
13 Matt Scott [56]
12 Dan Kelly [50]
11 Harry Simmons [28]
10 Handré Pollard [3]
9 Jack van Poortvliet (vc) [59]
1 James Whitcombe [33]
2 Charlie Clare [67]
3 Dan Cole (vc) [303]
4 Ollie Chessum [42]
5 Cameron Henderson [26]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [73]
7 Tommy Reffell [90]
8 Olly Cracknell [13]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Julián Montoya [32]
17 Dan Richardson [8]
18 Will Hurd [17]
19 Harry Wells [170]
20 Sean Jansen [14]
21 Ben Youngs [293]
22 Jimmy Gopperth [8]
23 Charlie Atkinson [9]

posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
4
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI4301116892711101114
5
Ospreys Rugby
Ospreys RugbyOSP4301100881212101114
Form Guide
Form
WLLWL
Last Match
Lost to Leinster Rugby 22-36
Past Meeting
Lost 26-27
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
LWWWL
Last Match
Lost to Saracens 20-35
Past Meeting
Won 27-26

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Ospreys Rugby27
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