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Watch: Leicester produce early try of the year contender
We may be just two weeks into 2023 but Stade Marcel-Michelin in France has already hosted a game-of-the-year candidate, with the visiting Leicester hanging on to claim a dramatic Heineken Champions Cup win over Clermont.
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World Cup Handre Pollard put in a well-polished performance in the Tigers jersey and the 44-29 win was just what the English side were after following two heavy Gallagher Premiership defeats on the road at Sale and Newcastle.
Fresh from claiming the Premiership’s try of the month for December, the Tigers pulled off a remarkably well-executed back play to secure the bonus point.
The first highlight try of the game belonged to centre Matt Scott, who read the Clermont move like a book when intercepting a pass on halfway and running it in under the posts to give Leicester the lead just three minutes into the game.
Next, it was Harry Simmons’ turn, the winger receiving the ball with Alex Newsome just a few feet away and charging with pace. An explosive left-foot step dispatched the Clermont full-back before a similarly evasive step off the right turned Alivereti Raka inside and left the wide channel open for Simmons to burst down.
Bonus-point in the bag ✅@MattScott_10 collects his second try of the night for @LeicesterTigers 🐯#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/6tJxZkO8fY
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) January 13, 2023
But the real masterpiece came just three minutes into the second half. With Leicester leading 27-19, the next score would determine the nature of the second 40 minutes. Would Clermont be chasing the game or would Leicester find themselves with just a one-point lead to show for their early heroics?
A Leicester lineout 30 meters out from the Clermont line looked shaped for a driving maul but barely a second after the ball was dragged down, an advantage was called and Ben Youngs sprang into action. The veteran No9 darted off the back of the maul as a decoy runner ran square to the Clermont line. Youngs found Pollard running infield who in turn found Freddie Steward with a no-look ball inside him.
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Steward cantered through a gap in the Clermont line and Scott timed his support line to perfection, receiving the ball just as cover found Steward. Scott touched the ball down under the posts and Leicester celebrated a beautiful Champions Cup try.
Clermont weren’t without their own moments of magic as a Raka break in centrefield led to Etienne Fourcade touching down courtesy of an exceptional Irae Simone offload. The 19-year-old Clermont scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau also took home the star of the match after a stellar performance that will have local fans excited for the future.
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to comments