Apisai Naqalevu’s ClermontAuvergne loses to Leicester
Leicester made it two wins out of two in the Heineken Champions Cup after a battling display against ASM Clermont-Auvergne at Welford Road. They beat the much fancied side Clermont-Auvergne 23-16 on Saturday.
Two converted first-half tries gave the Tigers a lead extended by Charlie Atkinson’s second-half penalties.
Anthony Belleau landed two early penalties before tries from Jasper Wiese and Julian Montoya helped Leicester to a 17-6 lead at the break.
Clermont earned a bonus point through Sebastien Bezy’s late converted try.
Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick praised his side’s resolve but, following a week of speculation linking him to the vacant England post, would not confirm if he would be in charge for their next game against Gloucester on December 24.
“We allowed the game to slow down and become an arm-wrestle, which is not what we wanted, but you have to hand it to our team as they just keep fighting,” said Borthwick.
“It’s a productive two-week period as we will take two from two and we have a few players coming back now which will add to our strength.
The French side still had time to earn a bonus point in reducing Leicester’s lead to seven points as scrum-half Bezy darted over from the base of the scrum for a converted try that turned out to be the last action of the game.
The two sides face each other in the return Pool B fixture on January 13, 2023.
Line-ups - Leicester: Steward, Watson, Porter, Kelly, Potter, Atkinson, B Youngs, Cronin, Montoya, Cole, O. Chessum, Green, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese. Replacements: Clare, Leatigaga, Hurd, Wells, Cracknell, Wigglesworth, Burns, Ashton.
Clermont Auvergne: Newsome, Penaud, Tiberghien, Naqalevu, Delguy, Belleau, Bezy, Falgoux, Behergaray, Kubriashvili, Jedrasiak, Lavanini, Tixeront, Fischer, Iturria. Replacements: Boudou, Bibi-Biziwu, Slimani, Amatosero, Lanen, Jauneau, Plisson, Barraque.
Referee: Andrew Brace.