Tigers bash the Boks

Historic night in Leicester as World Champions go down

Last updated: 6th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tigers bash the Boks

Historic night: Tigers debutant Lote Tuqiri

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Guinness Premiership champions Leicester have scored an historic 22-17 victory against South Africa in the World Champions' first match of their autumn tour.

Playing in front of a 24,000 sell-out crowd at Welford Road, the Tigers put in an inspirational performance against the Spingboks as they overcame an early Jongi Nokwe try to confidently move into the lead.

It was one they never lost after Lucas Amorosino replied and with Martin Castrogiovanni inspiring Leicester's scrum, particularly after 'Boks captain Chiliboy Ralepelle was replaced early on, their commitment never wavered.

Manu Tuilagi went on some thundering runs forward for the home side, with scrum-half Ben Youngs also having a night to remember with the boot, kicking five penalties and a conversion.

Admittedly, South Africa coach Pieter de Villiers rested a number of big names for the contest but the autumn Tests meant that Tigers boss Richard Cockerill was missing six England internationals among nine first-team absentees.

Thus, Friday night's result can stand alongside Llanelli and Munster's victories against the All Blacks on the role call of club sides taking on and beating the might of the Southern Hemisphere.

Presence

Youngs in fact made a poor start to the evening and was well wide with a penalty attempt in the third minute.

Tuilagi then made his presence felt with a big hit on Wynand Olivier but the tourists profited nonetheless as Ruan Pienaar kicked them ahead after the Tigers failed to move away at the resulting ruck.

The 'Boks first try came in the ninth minute after they exploited the failure of Scott Hamilton - who suffered some interference - to deal with a high kick.

Having gained territory into the Tigers' 22, scrum-half Heini Adams fed the ball left to Earl Rose, whose chip to the left-hand corner was pounced upon by Nokwe.

Pienaar could not convert from the left touchline, though, and Leicester pulled the deficit back to five points just moments later when Youngs kicked a simple penalty.

They then came forward with the most-eyecatching move in their period of pressure - a nice chip and run from Johne Murphy on the left flank - merely resulting in a turnover.

With Ralepelle departing, Leicester looked to build on Youngs' break in the 24th minute but the ball was turned over.

Indeed South Africa could have scored on the counter as Rose tried to run on to his own kick forward, only for Murphy to mop up.

Leicester's response two minutes later was right out of the top draw: Tuilagi embarking on a break down the left before deftly playing the ball inside to Amorosino.

The wing still had plenty of work to do but, scything through on an angled run, he evaded allcomers to cross, with Youngs converting.

The Springboks could have responded immediately but replacement Bandise Maku's inside pass to Andries Bekker as the huge lock moved forward on the left flank was forward.

Confidence

Leicester went five points clear when Youngs kicked a 50-metre penalty just past the half-hour - the sight of the breaking Nokwe then being turned over in the ruck demonstrating that his confidence was clearly spreading.

Youngs then kicked his third penalty moments before half time to place his side a converted try ahead but Mauger immediately conceded - Pienaar doing the rest.

Tuilagi started the second half by expertly fending off Danie Rossouw and the scrum was also to the fore once again - its collapse allowing Youngs to boot the Tigers 19-11 ahead.

Youngs' run ended in the 54th minute when another longe-range penalty fell wide but he made no mistake five minutes later with an even more difficult effort after the 'Boks had again collapsed the scrum.

With Lote Tuqiri on for his Tigers debut, their opponents started to apply more pressure and penalties resulted.

Pienaar found the target after 65 minutes but the Tigers used the replacement of Castrogiovanni as a cue to again turn the tables.

They could not extend their lead but at least they stopped their opponents from eating into it. Pienaar saw a penalty hit the right post after 75 minutes but kicked another moments later.

South Africa meant business as 80 minutes became 84 but phase after phase of painful progress came to nought when wing Odwa Ndungane fumbled - the celebrations starting just as soon as the ball was bundled into touch.