1
Leicester were left to play a waiting game in terms of reaching the Investec Champions Cup knockout phase after Leinster toppled them 27-10 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
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The Tigers needed a point to secure qualification from Pool Four, but their fate now rests on what happens in Sunday’s clash between Sale Sharks and La Rochelle.
Leinster, chasing a record-equalling fifth European title this season, fell 10 points behind to a Hanro Liebenberg try, with Handre Pollard kicking a conversion and penalty.
But the Irish heavyweights soon found a familiar rhythm, taking charge through tries from lock Joe McCarthy, wing Jordan Larmour and hooker Dan Sheehan, while Harry Byrne added two conversions and a penalty.
Caelan Doris’ late try secured a bonus-point as Leinster ended the group-stage with four wins out of four and secured a round of 16 tie on home soil in Dublin later this season.
Leicester shaded the early sparring as both sides jostled for territory, and they deservedly went ahead through a 10th-minute try.
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Number eight Jasper Wiese made initial headway, and with Leinster regrouping in defence, Tigers centre Dan Kelly surged into space and sent a scoring pass to Liebenberg.
Pollard converted from the touchline, and he increased Leicester’s lead midway through the half by kicking a 50-metre penalty after Sheehan infringed.
Leinster, though, underlined their enviable European pedigree by drawing level through a 10-point burst in six minutes.
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Byrne opened their account with a penalty, and as Tigers came under mounting pressure, McCarthy crashed over from close range and Byrne’s conversion tied things.
Leicester then lost Wales flanker Tommy Reffell for a head injury assessment, and Leinster went ahead for the first time following a blistering break by scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.
The Ireland international was hauled down short of the line by Leicester full-back Freddie Steward, but Leinster quickly recycled possession and Larmour finished strongly as Tigers found themselves 15-10 adrift.
Reffell failed his HIA and was replaced by Kyle Hatherell, before Tigers’ England forward Ollie Chessum also went off for a HIA and scrum-half Tom Whiteley was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.
It went from bad to worse for Leicester as Leinster stung them with a third try before Whiteley had barely left the pitch as Sheehan crossed and Byrne’s conversion opened up a 12-point gap.
Investec Champions Cup
Pool 1
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Bordeaux
4
3
1
0
17
2
Bulls
4
3
1
0
15
3
Lyon
3
2
1
0
12
4
Connacht
4
1
3
0
6
5
Saracens
3
1
2
0
5
6
Bristol
4
1
3
0
5
Pool 2
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Toulouse
3
3
0
0
15
2
Harlequins
4
3
1
0
15
3
Bath
3
3
0
0
15
4
Racing 92
4
1
3
0
8
5
Ulster
4
1
3
0
5
6
Cardiff Rugby
4
0
4
0
3
Pool 3
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Northampton
3
3
0
0
14
2
Exeter Chiefs
3
3
0
0
13
3
Glasgow
4
2
2
0
10
4
Munster
3
1
1
1
8
5
Bayonne
3
0
2
1
3
6
Toulon
4
0
4
0
2
Pool 4
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Leinster
4
4
0
0
19
2
Stormers
3
2
1
0
9
3
Leicester
4
2
2
0
9
4
La Rochelle
3
1
2
0
7
5
Sale
3
1
2
0
5
6
Stade Francais
3
0
3
0
1
Like Reffell, Chessum did not rejoin the action, but Leicester began the final quarter strongly, with their cause being helped by a yellow card for Leinster replacement Jack Conan.
But they could find no way through Leinster’s defence, and Tigers’ Champions Cup fate now rests on events elsewhere.
