Montpellier will provide the third French opposition in six rounds for Leicester Tigers in the European Challenge Cup Final on Friday.
After falling at the semi-finals in Toulon last season – in the club’s first-ever Challenge Cup campaign – Tigers have reached the final for the first time in after five previous appearances in the last stage of the Champions Cup.
The run to the final began with a 39-17 victory over French visitors Brive back in December, with two late tries securing a bonus point to kick off the competition in some style.
Six internationals made their first appearance of the season as scores from Tom and Ben Youngs in each half set the platform before Tigers finally pulled away in the last 10 minutes with Cyle Brink claiming his first try for the club and, finally, Nemani Nadolo running in the crucial fourth score.
Steve Borthwick’s men completed a French double a week later with a 28-20 verdict in a first-ever European meeting with Bayonne.
A much-changed team, led by Jaco Taute, led 17-6 on the half-hour with tries from Tommy Reffell and Dan Kelly.
Bayonne fought back with a score on the stroke of half-time with Tigers down to 13 men with props Joe Heyes and Nephi Leatigaga in the sin bin, but a huge period from the short-handed visitors not only protected that lead but also gained the penalties which allowed Zack Henry to kick points before Kini Murimurivalu’s try pushed the lead out to 15 points.
A try from Andrie Gorin and a yellow card for Cyle Brink set up a tense closing spell but Tigers dug deep in defence to secure a first win in France since 2013.
Before clubs could play the return fixtures, however, the impact of Covid-19 was felt again with fixtures suspended and then cancelled with progress based on results from the two preliminary games. Tigers were guaranteed a home draw in the Round of 16 on the back of two wins and remained at home for three knockout fixtures, against Irish duo Connacht and Ulster, either side of a meeting with Gallagher Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons.
Despite falling behind in the opening minutes of the clash with Connacht, Tigers bounced back with four scores in half an hour to lead 24-11 at half-time.
Charlie Clare set the ball rolling with his opening try before Guy Porter, Matías Moroni and Zack Henry all celebrated their first tries for the club.
A Connacht with a strong record away from home clawed their way back into the contest at 27-25 and missed a kick which would have given them the lead, but Clare added his second,
Harry Wells forced his way over for another and then Jasper Wiese crashed over from the base of a scrum to put the outcome beyond doubt at 48-32.
Set-piece pressure provided the platform for a 39-15 quarter-final win over the Falcons, referee Romain Poite awarding two penalty tries alongside scores by Harry Potter (2) and Moroni.
Ulster arrived at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in good form but were beaten 33-24 in the semi-final as Tigers roared back from a half-time deficit to book their place in the Final.
The visitors led 17-6 from the 20-minute mark before Wiese’s score got Tigers back in the contest at the start if the second half and they made the most of the swing in momentum as George Ford converted a score from Ellis Genge on the left, then added a drop goal before
Porter ran in a third try to secure the victory and book the first place in the Final ahead of the second semi-final behind Montpellier and Bath.
