Leicester turn down late chance to draw and suffer defeat by Racing 92 as Tigers bow out of Champions Cup

Leicester Tigers 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.

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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.

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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.

In the other game in Pool 4 Munster hammered Castres 48-3 as they finished top of the group ahead of Racing meaning they set up a quarter-final tie against French side Toulon.

In Pool 1 Wasps ran in four tries to beat Ulster 26-7 with both sides ultimately failing to secure safe progress into the last eight as, despite finishing second, the Premiership side were not amongst the three best runners-up.

Ulster needed a win themselves to secure a quarter-final berth but failed to get the result they needed to to progress and bow out at the first hurdle.

In the Pool’s other game La Rochelle beat Harlequins to top the group but a spirited performance from the visitors meant that the French side failed to get the home draw they wanted in the next round. They will travel to in-form Scarlets as a result.

PA