Match Preview: Leicester seek double over Clermont
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Leicester Tigers will be looking to maintain their 100%-win record in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and complete the double over ASM Clermont Auvergne when they visit Stade Marcel-Michelin in Round 3 on Friday night.
The game will be Richard Wigglesworth’s first Heineken Champions Cup game as Leicester head coach, with the former scrum-half turning out as a replacement in both their wins for far.
Under the guidance of now-England boss Steve Borthwick, Leicester claimed a 23-17 victory at Ospreys in Round 1, before defeating Clermont 23-16 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road to sit third in Pool B.
Clermont’s 24-14 win over United Rugby Championship winners DHL Stormers in Round 1 has left them in eighth in the pool and underlined their danger at home.
Since their Heineken Champions Cup Round 2 meeting, Leicester have won once in three Gallagher Premiership games, while Clermont have managed the same record in the TOP 14.
The Round 3 contest in Clermont-Ferrand kicks off at 20:00 (UK & Irish time) and is available to watch on BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, SuperSport and FloRugby.
GAME WEEK 🤩
Here’s a reminder of how it stands heading into #HeinekenChampionsCup Round 3️⃣ 👇 https://t.co/twnfpdfzlr
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 9, 2023
Key quote:
Leicester Tigers back-row forward Hanro Liebenberg: “Clermont are a team who pride themselves on being successful at home in Europe and we know they will be looking for a big performance.”
ASM Clermont Auvergne
- Of the players in Round 2 who didn’t miss a tackle, Alexandre Fischer came out on top with 19.
- Clermont have the lowest conversion rate in the opposition 22. Of their 22 visits to the red zone, a competition-low 31.8% have resulted in a try or a penalty.
- Jules Plisson and Anthony Belleau are Clermont’s top points-scorers with 14 and 11 respectively. However, while Belleau’s goalkicking success rate is 100%, Plisson’s is 67%.
Leicester Tigers
- Jasper Wiese made the joint-most carries in Round 2 (20). He also made the most metres in contact (44).
- Hanro Liebenberg won 12 lineouts in the previous round – more than any other player.
- Charlie Atkinson has succeeded with all 10 kicks at goal in the competition so far – which is the highest number for a player yet to miss. He has also made the most metres from penalty kicks (53).
- Leicester have won just 50% of scrums on their own put-in.
