TIGERS PLAYER RATINGS
Leicester Tigers celebrated their return to the Heineken Champions Cup after two seasons away with an epic victory over Top 14 leaders Bordeaux Begles. Here, rugby writers Ethan Clamp and Bobby Bridge rate the players.
BRYCE HEGARTY: An early quick throw from the Australian set the tone for the game that Tigers wanted to play. A performance from the full-back that showed Tigers fans don’t need to worry when Freddie Steward is away with England. 7
HARRY POTTER: With a partisan home crowd breathing down his neck, the way the Australian dealt with the balls being kicked his way was admirable. Remained alert in defence to read Ulupano Seuteni when he chipped ahead and ran some nice lines in the first half. 7.5
GUY PORTER: Scored his fourth try of the season but was at fault for Bordeaux’s only try after not drifting in defence and leaving a gap that Jean-Baptise Dubie went through. Was unfortunate to have knocked on for Potter’s disallowed try early in the second half. 7
MATT SCOTT: It was the turnover exploits of Dan Kelly that were getting the plaudits last weekend, but this week it will be the Scottish international. The centre made two turnovers, including a hugely important one in the closing minutes. 8
HOSEA SAUMAKI: The Tongan was filling the pretty large shoes of Nemani Nadolo but didn’t quite manage to put his mark on the game. In the largely kicking game, the ball rarely saw the wings, with the 29-year-old’s biggest impact on the game being his yellow card for bringing down Nans Ducuing in the air. 5
GEORGE FORD: It was a performance for the ages from the England international. His kicks manoeuvred the Bordeaux’s back three throughout the game, putting them under constant pressure. In the second half he found open space in the backfield as the French side began to tire. The way he held on to the ball for a fraction of a second to draw the man and put Hegarty into space was world class for the Porter score. Barring a crazy five minutes where the fly-half missed an easy three points and kicked out on the full soon after, it was a faultless performance. 9
JACK VAN POORTVLIET: It was a big call from Borthwick to start the young scrum half and he may have had a case of early nerves when he conceded an early penalty at a lineout that led to Bordeaux’s first points. But he kicked well for the rest of the game before being replaced on 53 minutes by Wigglesworth. 6.5
ELLIS GENGE: The captain put in a gutsy 80-minute performance. With the help of van Staden, he did extremely well to stay on his feet for a second longer before being brought to ground which led to the match-winning penalty. 7.5
NIC DOLLY: After spending last weekend on the bench the recent England international was trusted with the number two jersey and although he didn’t add to his scoring exploits for the season he put in another solid shift, making multiple tough lineout throws to the rear and continued to work hard until being replaced on 60 minutes. 7
JOE HEYES: The tighthead finally got his start over Dan Cole and showed why he is so highly rated by Tigers, earning a couple of penalties at scrum time. Bordeaux’s loosehead Thierry Paiva struggled to contain Heyes’ lower scrummaging technique throughout. 7
OLLIE CHESSUM: It’s hard to believe that before this season the 21-year-old had only made eight senior Tigers appearances. He is becoming an undroppable player. The second row never gave the Top 14 side an easy lineout throw, putting constant pressure in the air while also carrying hard ball in hand throughout. 7
CALUM GREEN: The experienced lock was effective in stopping the Bordeaux driving maul from crossing the Tigers try line. But did begin to tire late in the second half giving away a penalty at the maul and then fumbled when transferring the ball to Genge. 7
GEORGE MARTIN: Statistics only tell you so much about a player like Martin. While his tackle count of 13 was high, look closer and you’ll see him hitting guys like a train and forcing fumbles. 7.5
TOMMY REFFELL: Made more metres (19) and tackles (16) than any other Leicester Tigers player as well as adding his customary turnover penalty win at a breakdown. 8
JASPER WIESE: The Bordeaux defence kept the South African fairly quiet throughout the game by targeting him with multiple defenders. Replaced by van Staden on 54 minutes. 6
REPLACEMENTS: Charlie Clare (for Dolly, 60) 6; Dan Cole (for Heyes, 54) 6.5; Harry Wells (for Green, 60) 6; Marco van Staden (for Wiese, 54) 7; Richard Wigglesworth (for van Poortvliet, 53) 6.5; Juan Pablo Socino (for Porter, 64) 6; Kini Murimurivalu (for Saumaki, 53) 6