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Bizarre two-ball ending to Leicester's 'game to remember' in Paris
Leicester Tigers made it two from two in Europe in the Investec Champions Cup as they held on for a dramatic 27-24 pool 4 win over Stade Francais at the Stade Jean Boiun in Paris on Sunday night.
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Archie Vanes, in his first Champions Cup start, picked up a hat-trick before home full-back Leo Barre scored one of the individual tries of the season, but it was the visitors that held on late under immense pressure from the home side.
A pin-point cross-kick with time practically up should have snatched a late win for Stade Francais, but replacement winger Lester Etien failed to collect the sitter out wide with the try line in front begging.
Stade Francias could have snatched the win late vs Leicester Tigers but ironically named Lester Etien unfortunately failed to collect pic.twitter.com/kdzLamBoDc
— Grant Constable (@GrantConstable) December 18, 2023
There was a twist though, as Mike Brown was adjudged to have knocked the ball on deliberately in the lead up to the kick, earning him a yellow card and another chance for Stade Francais from the penalty.
Rather than settle for a 27-27 draw, they opted to kick for the corner, but the kick went high up in the stands and while the resultant lineout took place, sideline staff could be seen trying to retrieve the ball from the crowd.
With time up and Leicester a man down, the lineout evolved into a fiercely competitive maul, just as the ball finally got tossed down from the stands and awkwardly bounced onto the field, directly into the maul.
The result was a comical situation that meant there were two balls on the field, and with Tigers players so focussed on defence, they pounced when a ball suddenly became visible.
A second ball arrived with 14-man Leicester defending for their lives against Stade Francais with time up pic.twitter.com/HcVCooDSjK
— Grant Constable (@GrantConstable) December 18, 2023
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The Leicester players thought the game should be over, as they now had the ball, but referee Nika Amashukeli had to step in once again, awarding a scrum and stopping the game to explain to the players exactly what had just happened.
“We’ve got two balls on the field. Somebody’s thrown the ball in, so we can’t end up like this,” the Georgian explained.
“There’s two balls on the pitch, it’s quite a unique situation now, so we need to restart with a scrum. It’s not fair to end up like this.”
Hanro Liebenburg protested that it was “their [Stade Francais] guys that threw the ball on…”, suggesting that it’s possibly their fault, but the referee stuck to his guns.
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“I can’t do anything. It’s a unique situation,” repeated Amashukeli.
The Tigers hung on, withstanding even more pressure before eventually getting a Harry Wells turnover with the clock deep into added time.
“It was a Leicester Tigers performance, full of fight and commitment to your mate beside you. That’s what the club’s always been built on,” head coach Dan McKellar said.
“We came here with a plan and belief that we could win if we stuck to it, and we did that.
“It’s a game I will remember for as long as I live. Winning in that fashion, away from home in tough place to come it’s special.”
Leicester will travel to Exeter when they return to Gallagher Premiership action next weekend, before hosting Bath Rugby on New Year’s Eve at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
“These are the memories you take with you and we’re building momentum now. Exeter away will be a big game and then a massive fixture at home against Bath.”
Investec Champions Cup
Pool 1
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Bordeaux
2
2
0
0
10
2
Lyon
2
1
1
0
7
3
Bulls
2
1
1
0
5
4
Saracens
2
1
1
0
5
5
Bristol
2
1
1
0
5
6
Connacht
2
0
2
0
1
Pool 2
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Toulouse
2
2
0
0
10
2
Bath
2
2
0
0
10
3
Ulster
2
1
1
0
5
4
Harlequins
2
1
1
0
5
5
Racing 92
2
0
2
0
2
6
Cardiff Rugby
2
0
2
0
2
Pool 3
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Northampton
2
2
0
0
9
2
Exeter Chiefs
2
2
0
0
9
3
Glasgow
2
1
1
0
4
4
Bayonne
2
0
1
1
3
5
Munster
2
0
1
1
3
6
Toulon
2
0
2
0
2
Pool 4
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Leinster
2
2
0
0
9
2
Leicester
2
2
0
0
9
3
Sale
2
1
1
0
4
4
Stormers
2
1
1
0
4
5
La Rochelle
2
0
2
0
2
6
Stade Francais
2
0
2
0
1
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments