Painful for Mauger as Tigers are thrashed
TIGERS’ disastrous European crusade was laid embarrassingly to rest in Paris as Racing, another team to underperform in this season’s competition, put them painfully to the sword.
Racing inflicted a punishing third Pool 1 defeat on the English club who are now left to try and spark some life into their equally lacklustre domestic campaign where they need a strong run to break into the Premiership top four.
New boss Aaron Mauger would not have enjoyed this rugby lesson dished out by Racing and is left waiting for his first win since taking over the reins from Richard Cockerill, having also lost the first game at Wasps in the Premiership.
This was a heavy, psychological blow despite the fact Tigers’ Champions Cup hopes were virtually already over before the start.
Any small straw they were left grasping was ripped away by impressive Racing at Stade Yves Du Manoir. Dan Carter did not need to be at his world class best but he kicked nine points and was pivotal for Racing in a five-try bonus point win.
Tigers made a terrible start in a frantic opening as the French outfit grabbed a stranglehold on their English rivals. The visitors trailed 15-0 after just 17 minutes as Xavier Chaveau burst over for the opening try after Adam Thompstone tried to anticipate a possible interception but was left standed as scrum-half Chaveau darted through the big hole left in the Tigers defence and over the line. Carter kicked a long range penalty to increase the lead.
Tigers were their own worst enemies when a pass from Sam Harrison, who had come on as a temporary replacement for injured Freddie Burns, missed its intended target and Racing made him and his teammates pay dearly. Left wing Marc Andreu pounced to pick up the loose ball and ran over the line unchallenged for Carter to add the extras from in front of the posts.
Burns returned to the fray as Tigers’ defence attempted vainly to thwart further Racing attacks as the hosts threatened to put the game to bed by halftime.
Having soaked up plenty of pressure, it was the Tigers fly-half who put the next points on the board with a penalty.
It was a brief moment of respite. A missed Carter penalty was fumbled and knocked on by Matthew Tait. It was a costly slip as moments later powerful lock Gerbrandt Grobler powered his way over from close range just grounding the ball before Dan Cole’s knee could intervene.
Carter converted for a 22-3 lead and Tigers were left needing a miraculous recovery in the second half. Sadly that was never going to materialise.
Cole was penalised for a late body check on Carter after he had kicked the ball down field. Racing’s pack pushed towards the line and Tigers gave away a penalty try when they deliberately collapsed the maul. Carter converted. They also lost flanker William Evans to the bin for pulling it down.
Racing also went a man down when Antonie Claassen was sin binned for foul play.
Cole fell short when trying to bulldoze his way over and Racing had the final say with Andreu running in his second and his side’s fifth try. We seem to be a different team away from Welford Road and we have to be a lot better.
“It’s pretty embarrassing with this poor performance. But we will get back together on Monday and try to front up next against Glasgow.
“We could not cope with them in most areas in that first half and we let the game get away from us.”
Dan Carter said: “We take a lot of pride from this performance. It’s been a very disappointing European campaign but at least we showed what we are really capable of tonight.”