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Report | Tigers hold on for European win

Figure image

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.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 3-0 EDI

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 16-6 EDI

Attendance

12,844

Referee

Mathieu Raynal

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
16

Full Time

Edinburgh Rugby
Edinburgh Rugby
6
Leicester Tigers
P
T
C
P
P
KOHTFT
Edinburgh Rugby
P
P

Match Stats

Leicester Tigers
Edinburgh Rugby
Possession
47%
53%
Territory
45%
55%
Penalties Conceded
10
13
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
183/210 87%
112/126 89%
Scrums Won
9/10 90%
3/4 75%
Lineouts Won
12/18 67%
10/14 71%

Player Stats

Leicester Tigers
Edinburgh Rugby
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Freddie Steward
14Anthony Watson
13Guy Porter
12Jimmy Gopperth
11Harry Potter
10Handre Pollard1C3P
9Jack van Poortvliet
1James Cronin
2Julian Montoya
3Dan Cole
4George Martin
5Cameron Henderson
6Hanro Liebenberg
7Tommy Reffell
8Olly Cracknell
16Charlie Clare
17Tom West
18Joe Heyes
19Eli Snyman
20Jasper Wiese1T
21Sam Wolstenholme
22Charlie Atkinson
23Dan Kelly

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!


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Emiliano Boffelli
14
Darcy Graham
13
Mark Bennett
12
James Lang
11
Duhan van der Merwe
10
Blair Kinghorn
9
Henry Pyrgos
1
Pierre Schoeman
2
Stuart McInally
3
WP Nel
4
Sam Skinner
5
Grant Gilchrist
6
Jamie Ritchie
7
Hamish Watson
8
Viliame Mata

Replacements

16
Dave Cherry
17
Boan Venter
18
Luan de Bruin
19
Marshall Sykes
20
Luke Crosbie
21
Ben Vellacott
22
Cameron Hutchison
23
Damien Hoyland

Team News | Leicester side to play Edinburgh

Figure image

Richard Wigglesworth has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Edinburgh Rugby in the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16.

Julián Montoya will captain the team at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday night.

Wigglesworth has made six changes to his starting side from last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership win against Bristol, which includes a return to action for Guy Porter who missed the bonus-point victory over the Bears.

The only other changes to the starting backline are the inclusions of Freddie Steward and Jack van Poortvliet, who came off the bench in last week’s league outing, at full-back and scrum-half.

In the pack, James Cronin, Dan Cole and Tommy Reffell - who all came off the bench against Bristol - are named to start.

The trio replace Tom West, Joe Heyes and Jasper Wiese, who are named on the bench.

Meanwhile, also included among the replacements, is Dan Kelly who is in line for his return from injury after being sidelined for 10 weeks and Sam Wolstenholme who, if used, will make his Leicester Tigers debut.

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [68]
14 Anthony Watson [12]
13 Guy Porter [56]
12 Jimmy Gopperth [13]
11 Harry Potter [62]
10 Handré Pollard [10]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [61]
1 James Cronin [12]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [39]
3 Dan Cole [305]
4 George Martin [54]
5 Cameron Henderson [32]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [80]
7 Tommy Reffell [95]
8 Olly Cracknell [20]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [74]
17 Tom West [6]
18 Joe Heyes [119]
19 Eli Snyman [31]
20 Jasper Wiese [56]
21 Sam Wolstenholme *
22 Charlie Atkinson [14]
23 Dan Kelly [51]

* Leicester Tigers debut

Form Guide
Form
LLWWL
Last Match
Lost to Gloucester Rugby 13-23
Past Meeting
Won 16-6
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
LWWWL
Last Match
Lost to Leicester Tigers 6-16
Past Meeting
Lost 6-16

Matchday Live

Leicester Tigers16
Leicester Tigers
Edinburgh Rugby6
Edinburgh Rugby
Full Time