Leicester wait to learn fate as Leinster deprive them of bonus point

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.

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.

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.

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.