Racing 92 23-20 Leicester: French side edge into Champions Cup quarter-finals
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 21/01/18 3:57pm
Racing 92 kicked a late penalty to beat Leicester and qualify for the Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Leicester regained some pride after a poor European Champions Cup campaign, by pushing Racing 92 all the way before losing 23-20 in their final pool game.
The Tigers, who have now failed to reach the knock-out stage in three of the last four seasons, finished bottom of their pool for the first time, but at least produced a battling performance at a snow-covered Welford Road.
Brendon O'Connor scored their only try with the other points coming from the boot of George Ford, while Maxime Machaneaud starred for Racing. the scrum-half scored 18 points that included a try.
Racing's other try was scored by Henry Chavancy.
The Tigers were playing for pride only and fielded a virtually full-strength team after making 13 changes to the side thrashed 39-0 at Castres in the previous round.
England centre Manu Tuilagi withdrew with a tight calf while prop Dan Cole made his 50th European appearance.
Leicester, the most successful English side with 20 major titles including two European Cups, were aiming to avoid an eighth defeat in nine games.
However, they made a disastrous start and trailed 14-0 after just 11 minutes before fighting back with nine unanswered points before half-time.
It all looked too easy for Pool 4 leaders Racing early on.
Centre Chavancy got the first try following a driving maul from a line-out and then scrum-half Machenaud doubled the lead when he touched down after the ball squirted out of a scrum near the Tigers' line.
Referee Nigel Owens watched several replays before awarding the try, and with Machenaud converting both, Racing appeared to be in the driving seat.
But the French side failed to capitalise and Leicester slowly grew into the contest.
Although they did not create any chances, England fly-half Ford kept them in the game with penalties in the 17th, 28th and 39th minutes.
Seven minutes after the restart, Leicester levelled. Ford turned down the chance of three points from a penalty and kicked for touch. And from the catch and drive, flanker O'Connor got the touchdown.
Ford missed the conversion.
Winger Jonny May appeared to be taken out in mid-air by full-back Brice Dulin when fielding a Ford cross-field kick before Machenaud put Racing back in the lead with a 54th-minute penalty. The visitors immediately brought on former All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter.
Ford and Machenaud kicked two penalties apiece as the teams went into the last nine minutes tied at 20-20.
Machenaud put Racing 23-20 ahead with a 76th-minute penalty and in a dramatic finish Leicester turned down the chance of a penalty to go for the win but Racing held out.
