Bordeaux tear Leicester apart to set up mouthwatering quarter-final against Toulouse

Leicester did not help themselves at times – some of the front-line defence, particularly in the first half, was woeful – but the Tigers were fighting fires everywhere. If Bielle-Biarrey, with that iconic red scrum cap, is not cutting you to shreds, then Jalibert will, or Lucu, one of European rugby’s most underrated players, will squeeze you out of the contest with his calmness, kicking and control. The ovation Lucu, Bordeaux’s scrum-half and captain, received on 50 minutes as he departed was cacophonous; as was the roar Ben Tameifuna ignited when the wardrobe-on-wheels thundered over for a score soon after coming on. If Bordeaux cannot go round you, they will go through you, instead.

Outclassed, outfought and out-thought, the challenge for Leicester now is to ensure that there is a response in the league. For Bordeaux, it might only be Toulouse who can stand between them and an historic European and domestic double.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 3-0 Lucu pen, 8-0 Woki try, 10-0 Lucu con, 15-0 Rayasi try, 20-0 Lucu try, 22-0 Lucu con, 27-0 Bielle-Biarrey try, 29-0 Lucu con, 34-0 Lamothe try, 36-0 Lucu try, 36-5 Perese try, 36-7 Searle con, 41-7 Tameifuna try, 43-7 Lucu con, 43-12 Searle con, 43-14 Searle con, 48-14 Rayasi try, 50-14 Reus con, 55-14 Retiere try, 57-14 Reus con, 62-14 Rayasi try, 64-14 Reus con.

Bordeaux: S Rayasi; P Uberti, D Penaud, Y Moefana (Janse van Rensburg 50, Reus 51), L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, M Lucu (capt, Retiere 50); J Poirot (Perchaud 46), M Lamothe (Barlot 58), C Sadie (Tameifuna 46), B Palu, A Coleman (Bochaton 64), B Vergnes-Taillefer, C Woki, M Gazzotti (Matiu 58).

Leicester: F Steward; A Radwan, I Perese (Wand 60), J Woodward (Searle 41), O Hassell-Collins; J O’Connor, J van Poortvliet (Whiteley 54); A van der Flier (Haffar 47), J Blamire (Clare 47), W Hurd (Loman 47), H Liebenberg (c), H Wells, J Moro, J Manz (Palmer 38), O Cracknell (Henderson 54).

Referee: Andrew Brace (Wales).

Attendance: 32,930.