Tigers come up short in epic battle
SALVATION eluded Leicester in this futuristic setting yesterday, but there was hope and honour in defeat, not to mention a bonus point which just about keeps their Heineken Champions Cup campaign afloat.
In the riot-ravaged capital of France, this was a day when the Tigers manned the barricades and fought heroically to revive their season and battered reputation. From the ruins of their wretched loss at Bristol the previous weekend, this was a step in the right direction. Not before time.
After a week of recriminations, the stark fact is that this latest setback was their seventh successive defeat in all competitions. But the manner of it was markedly different.
Leicester went toe-to-toe with one of the pre- eminent forces in European rugby, away from home, and emerged with a fourtry bonus point. It was the least they deserved. There could have been even more to savour for Geordan Murphy’s side, who go into the return fixture at Welford Road on Sunday with genuine belief.
Defence has been an area of painful scrutiny all season but there were fewer glaring missed tackles on this occasion. Racing breached the visitors’ line thanks to their formidable power and the artistry of Finn Russell at fly-half, but they were certainly not waved through.
Murphy’s men would not go quietly. Every time it seemed as if the home side would surge out of sight, their English opponents came again. In the closing stages, they appeared capable of conjuring a monumental upset.
Twelve minutes from time, Ellis Genge — one of two Leicester players to spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin — typified the resistance movement which caused Racing so much trouble. The rookie prop took a pass near halfway and somehow blasted through seven attempted tackles, making around 30 metres in contact before he was brought down. Even the locals applauded in awe.
George Ford was inspired and it was the England fly-half who set up a grandstand finish. With 10 minutes to play, he claimed a deft interception deep in his own half, stormed clear, kicked ahead and chased hard to earn an attacking lineout, where after a quick throw Adam Thompstone darted over for a try.
Racing had gone into half-time with a 26-14 lead courtesy of tries by Virimi Vakatawa, Juan Imhoff and Baptiste Chouzenoux. But livewire Leicester scrumhalf Ben White set up a try for Jonah Holmes at the other end and Sione Kalamafoni leapt over a ruck to touch down. After the break, Manu Tuilagi’s clever blindside run and strike kept the visitors in the hunt, but when Russell’s back- hand offload put Simon Zebo through to score, the game appeared up.
Leicester had other ideas though. Murphy has endured a tough week and he said: ‘We conceded too easily in the first half, but I was really proud of the boys, to be still be in it at the end. We’re disappointed not to get more out of the game, but we’ll take a point. I don’t think you can question the endeavour and the passion of the blokes in the shirt, which is something we did do last week.’
Murphy admitted that he may welcome the chance to add another coach to his staff. ‘If we can bring quality people into the club, I’m all for it.’