Leicester Tigers were soundly defeated 42-28 by Union Bordeaux Begles in Round 1 of the new Champions Cup season.
The definition of a game of two halves; Tigers dominated the first 40 minutes to take a seven-point, 14-21, lead into the changing rooms before the home side came out flying in the second and ran away with the game in front of more than 32,000 fans in France.
Harry Wells was an unlikely first try-scorer for the game, when the second rower crashed over from close range in the sixth minute, before Bordeaux responded with their first less than two minutes later for back-rower Pete Samu.
Both goal kickers were on the money from the tee from the start to see the scoreboard read 7-7.
Leicester took back the lead in the 15th minute when Josh Bassett, who was denied just two minutes prior, managed to find his way over in the corner with very little room to move.
Jamie Shillcock was on target from the sideline to see Tigers lead by seven points, which they held on to until the half hour mark when Bordeaux got their second.
A well-executed lineout move helped lock Guido Petti into space and the Argentine international did the rest with only metres to cover before dotting it down.
Matthieu Jalibert levelled up the score, 14-14, approaching the break with his second successful attempt from the kicking tee.
Leicester turned down a trio of chances to add three points with penalty goals on offer, opting to chase a third try and, in the 35th minute, it proved to be the right decision when Côme Joussain scored for Tigers.
The Frenchman's score was followed up by a conversion from Shillcock to make it a 14-21, where it remained until the half-time break.
Then, in the space of just six minutes, Bordeaux scored three tries shortly after the break to swing the momentum in their favour.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored the first and third of the six-minute trio of tries with Samu crossing for his second of the game in between his full-back's double.
It was almost 25 minutes before the next point was registered, when the home team added their sixth of the game, when centre Nicolas Depoortere crossed out wide after Bordeaux found space and tired defenders down the left in attack.
Jalibert added his sixth from six attempts to make it 42-21 with only six minutes remaining.
While the win was out of reach, Tigers refused to give up on getting a fourth try to take home a bonus-point from France and, with the clock in the red, their search proved worth the effort, when Izaia Perese scored to ensure Leicester left with something to show for their efforts.
Shillcock added a fourth to ensure his perfect record for the day which meant the final scoreline read 42-28 in Bordeaux's favour.
