Leicester have coasted to a 56-17 victory against the Sharks in Pool One of the Investec Champions Cup at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. The South African visitors were without a number of Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi, and Leicester tore them apart.
Hooker Julian Montoya scored two early tries before wing Ollie Hassell-Collins and centre Solomone Kata crossed, with Tigers collecting a bonus-point after just 35 minutes. Fly-half Handre Pollard added a fifth try before the interval – he also kicked six conversions for a 17-point haul.
A Jack van Poortvliet touch down took Tigers past 40 points and forwards Charlie Clare and Emeka Ilione completed the rout, with Jamie Shillcock landing two conversions.
Pool Two favourites Leinster backed up their impressive victory over Bristol Bears by beating Clermont Auvergne 15-7 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Garry Ringrose and Jordie Barrett scored first-half tries after Alivereti Raka claimed an early Clermont score, with Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast adding a conversion and penalty.
22m Entries
Ulster’s hopes of progressing from Pool One suffered another setback after they lost 40-19 against Bordeaux-Begles in Belfast. A week after conceding 60 points to Champions Cup holders Toulouse, Ulster led 19-14 at half-time following tries from Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney and Werner Kok.
Bordeaux, though, overwhelmed Ulster after the break as Damian Penaud, Guido Petti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Ugo Boniface claimed the tries that followed a first-half penalty try and a score for Tevita Tatafu.
