Ellis Genge leads 14-man Leicester to famous first-leg victory at Clermont

They will be talking about this one for a while. At one of Europe’s most famous stadiums, Leicester scored five tries against Clermont in a thumping win, underlining the club’s resurgence under Steve Borthwick. Already qualified for the Premiership playoffs, they now look assured of a spot in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

It was simple rugby. A formidable pack marshalled by the relentlessly busy Ellis Genge claimed ascendency in the tight channels and around the fringe. Their lineout and maul, expertly drilled by Borthwick, meant any penalty won in Clermont’s half carried the threat of seven points.

It was the home side that opened the scoring when a baying crowd at Stade Marcel-Michelin convinced them to turn down a kickable penalty and instead nudged it in the corner. Leicester held the ball up over the line but George Ford’s drop-kick clearance didn’t go far enough and was collected by Alivereti Raka on the right wing.

Clermont went left, then right, then left again, creating disharmony in Leicester’s line. Kotaro Matsushima straightened and fed Cheik Tiberghien who finished a superb move. Morgan Parra made a difficult conversion look easy.

Leicester hit back within five minutes through a trademark try registered by a man who has embodied their fight this season. A lineout in the red zone was cleanly won by Ollie Chessum. Julian Montoya came close from the maul but it was Genge, the Tigers’ captain, who dotted down after an explosive carry.

Parra started the match with a perfect record from the tee in this competition and he kept it alive by slotting a penalty before the half-hour. Clermont’s scrum had gained an early supremacy but Leicester’s lineout was firing so it was no surprise when the visitors went to the