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Leicester's Handre Pollard torments Stormers in Investec Champions Cup win
Handre Pollard scored 20 points against a side from his native South Africa as Leicester Tigers ground out a nervy 35-26 victory against a depleted Stormers in their opening match of this season’s Investec Champions Cup.
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Pollard’s haul included a crucial try at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Tongan centre Solomone Kata grabbing two scores of his own in what was a fitful performance from Leicester.
They had to turn around a 17-10 half-time deficit against a Stormers side who left most of their big names at home ahead of their home game against holders La Rochelle next week.
The only members of the Springboks’ World Cup-winning squad on display were in Leicester colours and one of them, Pollard, kicked the first points of the game via a penalty after six minutes.
Jurie Matthee was making his debut at fly-half for the Stormers and he took his first sight at the posts to level matters after Connor Evans was tackled while in the air at a line-out.
Parity lasted just a couple of minutes as Jasper Wiese, the other world champion in the Tigers’ ranks, broke from a five-metre scrum before passing for Kata to barge his way through for the opening try.
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A strong carry by openside Nama Xaba led to a good spell of pressure from the visitors and it led to number eight Keke Morabe breaking off an attacking scrum to go through virtually untouched.
Matthee’s conversion squared it up again at 10-10 after half an hour and it was the Stormers who went into half-time ahead.
It came after Paul de Wet did superbly to chase down his own kick ahead, after Wiese lost control at the back of a scrum, before popping up a pass for former Northampton winger Courtnall Skosan to finish, with Matthee converting again.
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Pollard quickly reduced the gap to four points with a penalty two minutes into the second half and it wasn’t long before Leicester then hit the front.
The ball was worked to the left, where Hanro Liebenberg fed Ollie Hassell-Collins, who drew his man before passing inside for Kata to score his second, with Pollard adding the extras.
The match was soon level again at 20-20, however, as Matthee kicked a drop goal from 22 metres before he and Pollard then swapped penalties in what was a fascinating kicking duel.
Match Summary 
3
Penalty Goals
3
4
Tries
2
3
Conversions
2
0
Drop Goals
1
102
Carries
89
10
Line Breaks
2
18
Turnovers Lost
13
6
Turnovers Won
3
The Stormers then lost Lee-Marvin Mazibuko to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Wiese and the Tigers quickly took advantage when Pollard went over from Harry Wells’ pass.
Matthee’s latest penalty kept the visitors in touch of their hosts going into the closing stages, but Leicester finally wrapped up the win when Josh Bassett finished in the corner off the final play.
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.
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