Leinster power to Champions Cup win over Leicester

Leicester never recovered from a devastating first half against Leinster as their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final ended in a crushing 23-14 defeat at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Tournament favourites Leinster fielded a starting XV containing 13 Ireland internationals and the gulf in class told as they powered 20-0 ahead by half-time, with scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park in mesmerising form.

It was the first time in three years Leicester had been kept scoreless by the time the interval arrived as the foundations were laid for the demise of their unbeaten home record this season.

A Tigers uprising followed with Chris Ashton finishing a beautifully taken try – his 41st in Europe – but their lung-busting effort was not matched by an ability to threaten the line as Leinster set up a semi-final against Toulouse next weekend.

It was the first significant bump in the road for Steve Borthwick’s Leicester revolution but the size of the defeat was as much a reflection of the challenges facing the Premiership as his team’s shortcomings.

One of only two quarter-finals involving English clubs restrained by reduced salary caps proved the difficulty they face competing against better resourced opponents from Ireland and France.

The gap is only going to widen further next season when the decreased budgets really begin to bite, but on this evidence it is already vast as the Premiership leaders were dismantled by their United Rugby Championship counterparts.

Borthwick’s half-time words certainly galvanised his players and throughout Leicester played with determination and character, but far more was needed against the four-time European champions.

The Tigers’ fire was evident as they tore into the visitors when able to in the opening