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          European Rugby Champions Cup 2018
          Leicester TigersLeicester TigersLEI
          20
          22/01FT
          23
          Racing 92Racing 92RAC
          • Brendon O'Connor(44')
          • George Ford(17', 29', 39', 65', 72')
          • Henry Chavancy(7')
          • Maxime Machenaud(12')
          • Maxime Machenaud(8', 13')
          • Maxime Machenaud(55', 69', 76')
          • SummarySummary
          • ReportReport
          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
          • TableTable

          Leicester fall short again as Racing 92 progress to knockouts

          Racing 92's Henry Chavancy celebrates scoring his side's first try during the European Rugby Champions Cup match. Rachel Holborn - CameraSport via Getty Images
          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Jan 22, 2018, 02:46 AM
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          Leicester regained some pride after a poor European Champions Cup campaign by pushing Racing 92 all the way before going down 23-20 in their final pool game.

          The Tigers, who have now failed to reach the knock-out stage in three of the last four seasons, finished bottom of their pool for the first time but at least produced a battling performance at Welford Road.

          Brendon O'Connor scored their only try, the other points coming from the boot of George Ford, while scrum-half Maxime Machaneaud starred for Racing. He scored 18 points, including a try, the other being scored by Henry Chavancy.

          Leicester played their final match of a dismal European campaign in a half-empty stadium in freezing conditions, and on a snow covered pitch.

          Having finished bottom of their pool for the first time in their history, the Tigers were playing for pride only and fielded a virtual full strength team after making 13 changes to the side thrashed 39-0 at Castres.

          England centre Manu Tuilagi withdrew with a tight calf while prop Dan Cole made his 50th European appearance.

          Leicester, the most successful English side with 20 major titles, including two European Cups, were aiming to avoid an eighth defeat in nine games but made a disastrous start and trailed 14-0 after just 11 minutes before fighting back with nine unanswered points before half time.

          It all looked too easy for Pool 4 leaders Racing, who won the home fixture 19-15, after they scored two tries in four minutes.

          Centre Chavancy got the first following a driving maul from a line-out and then scrum-half Machenaud doubled the lead when he touched down after the ball squirted out of a scrum near the Tigers line.

          Referee Nigel Owens watched several replays before awarding the try, and with Machenaud converting both, Racing looked in the driving seat.

          But the French side failed to capitalise and Leicester slowly grew into the match. Although they did not create any chances, England fly-half Ford kept them in the game with penalties in the 17th, 28th and 39th minutes.

          Seven minutes after the restart Leicester levelled. Ford turned down the chance of three points from a penalty and kicked for touch, and from the catch and drive flanker O'Connor got the touchdown. Ford missed the conversion.

          Winger Jonny May appeared to be taken out in mid-air by full back Brice Dulin when fielding a Ford cross-field kick before Machenaud put Racing back in the lead with a 54th-minute penalty. The visitors immediately brought on former All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter.

          Ford and Machenaud kicked two penalties apiece as the teams went into the last nine minutes tied at 20-20.

          Machenaud put Racing 23-20 ahead with a 76th-minute penalty and in a dramatic finish Leicester turned down the chance of a penalty to go for the win but Racing held out.

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          Standings

          Pool 1
          RTeamGPPDP
          1GLA4+4920
          2STA4+9412
          3SAL4-3811
          4SAR4+1310
          5SHA4-1010
          6ASM4-1080
          Pool 2
          RTeamGPPDP
          1BAT4+9116
          2RC4+1714
          3CAS4-810
          4EDI4-7110
          5MUN4-28
          6GLO4-276
          Pool 3
          RTeamGPPDP
          1LEI4+3518
          2HAR4+9815
          3STO4-814
          4LEI4+36
          5STA4-136
          6BAY4-1150
          Pool 4
          RTeamGPPDP
          1UNI4+7620
          2NOR4+4616
          3BRI4+5014
          4BUL4-687
          5SEC4-506
          6SCA4-543
          Full Table

          European Rugby Champions Cup 2018 News

          • Champions Cup match delayed after parachutist stuck on roof

            A Champions Cup rugby game between Toulouse and Sale was delayed for about half an hour on Sunday when a parachutist in a pre-match display was caught on the roof of the Stadium de Toulouse.

          • Parachutist trapped on roof before Toulouse v Sale game

            A Champions Cup rugby game was delayed for about half an hour on Sunday when a parachutist in a pre-match display was caught on the roof.

          • Toulouse win Champions Cup in thrilling final against Leinster

            Toulouse won a record-extending sixth European Champions Cup when a Matthis Lebel try helped them beat Leinster 31-22 after extra-time on Saturday.

          • Rugby Club World Cup set to be launched in 2028 - sources

            Plans for a rugby Club World Cup where the best northern and southern hemisphere club sides will compete against each other are in the offing, sources have told ESPN, with the tournament set to launch in 2028.

          • La Rochelle edge Leinster again to win back-to-back European crowns

            La Rochelle became the fifth team to win back-to-back European Champions Cups on Saturday when they clawed back a 17-point deficit to beat Leinster 27-26 at the Aviva Stadium in another breathless final between the sides.

          • Campo's call: Koroibete can get better still, Suaalii approach sends wrong message

            Wallabies great David Campese says Marika Koroibete is yet to hit the ceiling of his rugby talents, but the man who made the gold No. 11 jersey famous is displeased by talk Rugby Australia is lining up a mega-rich offer to teen sensation Joseph Suaali'i.