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Former Wasp stars as Leicester hold off Clermont Auvergne challenge

By PA
PA

Leicester moved a step closer to the knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup as 13 points from Charlie Atkinson proved crucial in a hard-fought 23-16 win over Clermont Auvergne.

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The Tigers crossed the line twice through Jasper Wiese and Julian Montoya, with Atkinson converting both and adding three penalties.

Anthony Belleau kicked three penalties and a conversion for Clermont, with Sebastien Bezy scoring their only try late on.

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Leicester’s victory added to last Sunday’s 23-17 triumph over Ospreys to give them eight points in Pool B, with a trip to Clermont and a home game against Ospreys to come.

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The match did not begin well for Clermont, who suffered an early blow when captain Arthur Iturria was forced to leave the field with a leg injury. However, they overcame the setback to take a sixth-minute lead with a penalty from Belleau.

The French soon lost another forward to injury with lock Paul Jedrasiak failing an HIA, but they extended their lead with a second penalty from Belleau after Montoya was deemed to have late-tackled Bezy.

Leicester responded with the first try of the game. From a line-out 22 metres out, Wiese powered past some weak tackling for an excellent solo effort.

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Atkinson converted from the touchline to leave the Tigers with a 7-6 lead at the end of an evenly-contested first quarter.

The hosts then took control and they were rewarded with a second try when Montoya finished off a driving line-out.

Leicester Tigers v ASM Clermont Auvergne - Heineken Champions Cup - Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium

Clermont were now firmly under the cosh, conceding a number of penalties. When replacement Thibaud Lanen was yellow-carded for deliberate offside, Atkinson knocked over the resulting penalty for a 17-6 interval advantage to the Tigers.

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Lanen returned from the sin-bin with no further damage done to the scoreboard and in time to see centre Cheikh Tiberghien make the best break of the game, but the French could not capitalise as they were penalised five metres out from the line.

Belleau and Atkinson then exchanged penalties but Clermont needed the next score to put pressure on their opponents.

Instead it was Leicester who added to their tally as Atkinson succeeded with his third penalty, before Bezy darted over in the final minute to secure his side a late consolation and a deserved bonus-point.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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