Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored a sensational first-half try - one of five before the break by Bordeaux
ByPhil CartwrightBBC Sport journalist- Published1 hour ago
- 94 Comments
Investec Champions Cup last 16
Bordeaux Begles (36) 64
Tries: Woki, Rayasi 3, Lucu, Bielle-Biarrey, Lamothe, Tameifuna, Retiere Cons: Lucu 5, Reus 3 Pen: Lucu
Leicester Tigers (0) 14
Tries: Perese, Searle Cons: Searle 2
Leicester Tigers were well beaten by a relentless Bordeaux Begles side as the defending champions cruised through to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.
After a close first quarter, Bordeaux produced a 20-minute spell of scintillating rugby to put the outcome beyond doubt by half-time.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey's try was a particular highlight, as was replacement prop Ben Tameifuna's powerful effort after the break, while full-back Salesi Rayasi completed a hat-trick with the last of their nine scores.
Leicester grabbed a couple of consolation tries in the second half, with Izaia Perese intercepting a loose pass to run in from long range and Billy Searle also touching down.
This is the third successive season in which Leicester have exited the Champions Cup at the last-16 stage, following defeats by Leinster and Glasgow in the previous two campaigns.
Tigers had scraped into the knockout phase, winning only one of their four pool matches, while Bordeaux won all four of theirs with bonus points to progress as the highest-ranked qualifier.
Their victory sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final against six-times winners and current Top 14 leaders Toulouse next weekend.
Leicester, third in the Prem, must turn their focus towards domestic matters for the remainder of the season.
Bielle-Biarrey and Rayasi star with sensational tries
In the week he was named Six Nations player of the tournament for a second consecutive year, France winger Bielle-Biarrey showed again why he is rated so highly by many in the sport.
The 22-year-old had already set up Rayasi's first and gone close to an acrobatic score in the corner himself - grounding the ball just in touch - when he broke through several tackles to set up captain Maxime Lucu for Bordeaux's third try.
In the next passage of play, Bielle-Biarrey was fed the ball on the left wing just inside his own half, strode away from Adam Radwan with exceptional pace, and swerved past England full-back Freddie Steward to touch down.
Former Tigers and England winger Tom Varndell, commentating for BBC Radio Leicester, said: "I don't know what I've just watched. That was incredible.
"I've not seen a player that quick before. He didn't just leave Freddie Steward, he ran away from Adam Radwan initially and then he's ghosted around Steward - who is not slow - in the space of two metres. What a try."
Not to be outdone, Rayasi demonstrated some sensational footwork to jink past two Tigers defenders and complete the scoring as well as his personal treble.
Line-ups
Bordeaux Begles: Rayasi, Uberti, Penaud, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Lucu (capt); Poirot, Lamothe, Sadie, Palu, Coleman, Vergnes-Taillefer, Woki, Gazzotti.
Replacements: Barlot, Perchaud, Tameifuna, Bochaton, Matiu, Retiere, Reus, Janse van Rensburg.
Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; O'Connor, Van Poortvliet; Van der Flier, Blamire, Hurd, Liebenberg (capt), Wells, Moro, Manz, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Haffar, Loman, Henderson, Palmer, Whiteley, Searle, Wand.
Match officials
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) and Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
