Leicester Tigers were beaten by a single point in the European Challenge Cup Final as Montpellier lifted the trophy with an 18-17 victory at Twickenham on Friday evening.
A crowd of 10,000 – thanks to relaxation of regulations on Covid measures – greeted the teams and thy were still in good voice as the game reached half-time all-square at 10-10 after a Harry Wells try for Tigers and one from wing Vincent Rattez for their rivals.
Forward pressure brought a second Tigers try for Jasper Wiese in the early stages of the second period before the French fought back with a well-worked score for Johan Goosen to lead by a point on the hour mark and it stayed that way to the end as Montpellier took the trophy for a second time in five years.
After a day of rain and strong winds, conditions had improved as Montpellier won the toss and kicked off with the Tigers fans greeting every tackle with an increase in the noise.
But after a lineout set up a strong drive on halfway for Tigers, the first penalty gave Nadolo and Genge a chance to carry in midfield and Ford then forced Montpellier on to their own line as he prodded a kick into the corner.
When their clearing kick made only 10 metres, Montpellier were pinned back and gave away another penalty 10 metres out.
Referee Andrew Brace asked the French captain for more discipline as Ford called for the tee and opened the scoring from 25 metres on eight minutes.
The lead lasted only until the 13th minute as Vincent Rattez placed a delicate kick down the left and just got a hand to it ahead of Matias Moroni as it bounced wickedly behind the tryline. Scrum-half Benoit Paillauge landed the conversion to make it 7-3.
An offside in the backline at a lineout gave Paillauge a penalty from further out on the left and he stretched the lead to 10-3.
Rattez showed ambition as he took a quick lineout on his own line and looked to open up play out. But when he game stopped for a lineout, Guy Porter lay on the turf near halfway after being hurt in a collision and left the field as Kini Murimurivalu ran on from the bench.
A scrum penalty on the French 10-metre line gave Ford an option to the corner, which raised the voices in the stands again, but after two carries among the forwards, Montpellier got over the ball and gained the penalty.
After full-back Anthony Bouthier made a confident catch from a testing Ford kick soon afterwards, Tigers had a penalty at the breakdown on the 10-metre line but the fly-half was off target.
Alex Lozowski then pushed Tigers back with a well-placed kick over Steward on the Leicester right, with Brink leaving due to injury to be replaced by Tommy Reffell before Tom Youngs could throw to the lineout inside his own 22.
When the whistle went again as Tigers set up their lineout drive, No8 Alexandre Becognee was sent to the sin bin after an earlier warning for a mounting penalty count.
The forwards drove again with Genge taking on the play and, despite losing the initial lineout platform, Tigers had another chance when the clearing kick just cleared the 22 and this time they made it count.
Youngs took possession at the back of an incredible 20-metre drive from the forwards and, with advantage being played, Murimurivalu was brought down just short but Wells picked up and reached over bodies on the line to score.
Ford’s conversion levelled the scores at 10-10 with five minutes remaining in the half.
A frantic spell from Bouthier’s counter-attack looked dangerous and, when Moroni and Muriurivalu combined over the ball, the whistle went in Montpellier’s favour but this time Paillauge hooked his kick wide as the first half came to a close with scores level.
A strong chase forced a Montpellier knock-on from the kick-off at the start of the second half and they were penalised at the scrum out wide on their right. Ford nudged play to the corner and, with advantage being played again, Tigers opened up play first to the right where Steward carried strongly and then in the left-hand corner where Nemani stretched out to dot down.
The referee, though, checked for a Steward knock-on and play came back for the penalty following another warning to captain Guilardo.
Another attack brought another penalty and a yellow card for the skipper with Tigers five metres out from the tryline.
Ben Youngs was sent on as his brother lined up the throw-in as Tigers worked the lineout drill again and it was Wiese on the bottom of the pile of bodies credited with the score. Ford added an immaculate kick from the left touchline for a 17-10 lead on 47 minutes.
Tigers were quickly penalised in defence, though, and Paillauge gratefully added the three points.
The scrum-half, though, then failed to retrieve a kick in the corner and Montpellier were pushed back again.
But they claimed the next score and a vital one at that, making the most of a counter-attack from Arthur Vincent and quickly loading the right side where Bouthier found Johan Goosen to score.
Paillauge, though, saw his conversion bounce out after remarkably hitting posts as the French led 18-17.
Ford pushed a penalty down the left and enjoyed building phases but met strong defence until Ford called for a drop-goal effort but he pushed it past the right-hand post.
A teasing kick over his shoulder from Youngs put Montpellier back on to their five-metre line, but they managed to play out from a lineout as World Cup winners Handre Pollard and Cobus Reinach were added to the backline.
A superb turnover on halfway gave Tigers a chance to get forward again but Ford’s kick into space down the middle ran over the tryline.
The work of Wells over the ball on halfway was rewarded with an important penalty and Ford prodded down the left again.
Montpellier met their rivals on the gainline but Tigers stayed patient as they tried again with Moroni on the left before spilled ball at a lineout provided a reprieve.
When Montpellier gained a penalty just inside their own half, Pollard took on the kick but put it wide.
Zack Henry, on for Nadolo, twice fielded long kicks as Montpellier forced Tigers to play from long distance and a huge kick-chase from another Ford tester could have brought more reward as put-in at the scrum went to the French halfway inside their own territory and they were then able then to close out the final minutes with ball in the forwards upfield.
Commentary
FULL-TIME | TIGERS 17-18 MONTPELLIER
Tigers miss out by a point in the European Challenge Cup final. Tries from Harry Wells and Jasper Wiese aren't enough but the lads gave everything out there.
Congratulations to Montpellier.
79
MONTPELLIER SLOW PACE
Reinach kicks clear and into touch, following the penalty. Tigers just in their 20 metre line, it's won by the French jumpers. Slowing the game down with the heavy runners.
Montpellier in no rush, and happy to play the slow game. Tigers forward stretching to gain the turnover...
78
TIGERS TRYING TO GET BALL MOVING
The Maul forces back the Montpellier drive. Won back in the air, ad and a break. Henry, then Wells, Ford and then Steward across the pitch, and then the penalty goes Montpelliers way.
Frustrating for Tigers.
76
MONTPELLIER PRESSURE
Scrum following the knock on and it's finally kicked clear following a clip off Kini Murimurivalu.
Line-out comes in, ball with Montpellier. It's box-kicked by Reinach. Ball still with the French side and Zach henry sees the ball trickle out in their own half.
TIGERS REPLACEMENT
Calum Green comes off for Cameron Henderson in the second row.
74
HIGH BALL EXCHANGE
Both teams going high with just eight minutes of the game left.
Both teams chasers looking to collect. Zach Henry wins possession for Tigers, Ford has an attempt, the penalty is finally awarded to Montpellier to the disappointment of the crowd.
72
MONTPELLIER MISS PENALTY KICK
Scrum following the knock-on from Joe Heyes. Ball turned over in Tigers favour, but it's lost to another penalty as Montpellier have the ball.
Replacement Handre Pollard will go for the posts from the half-way line...but he misses.
TIGERS REPLACEMENT
Nemani Nadolo makes way for Zach Henry.
69
TIGERS GO THROUGH PHASES
Going through the phases, but Tigers defensive work finally rewarded at the breakdown. Just as Montpellier looked to build.
Clare with the line-out, but it doesn't quite make its way out wide. Moroni comes back on the opposite flank, and its forced into touch at the breakdown. Tigers line-out.
67
MONTPELLIER MAKE METRES
Ford sends a high ball diagonally but well dealt with by the Montpellier back three. Mark called.
Territory still in the Montpellier half. Nadolo smothers the high ball, but it's relentless from the French side. Metres made and out wide.
TIGERS REPLACEMENT
Ellise Genge comes off for Luan de Bruin in the front row.
65
BATTLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK
Leibenberg penalised for the high challenge. Touch found by Montpellier. A taste of their own medicine as Tigers have to defend the maul. Turned over, and Tigers kick their clearance.
63
TIGERS INTO THE CORNER...
Liebenberg collects and charges from the restart, and Tigers head back into the corner and another line-out chance here five metres out to add pressure.
They work it out with the ball to the far jumper, kicked clear.
62
TIGERS WORK DROP GOAL ATTEMPT...
Ford goes for the corner and another chance from the line-out. You know what's coming!
Charlie Clare - ten metres out - but the maul his held up well by the Montpellier pack. Youngs, to Liebenberg, Wiese and Genge batter down the hatch. Tigers going slowly, and Ford attempts the drop goal - but misses. Chance gone.
60
HOUR MARK REACHED
Tigers just the one point behind with 60 minutes played. Both teams catch their breath with an exchange of kicks. Montpellier seeing more of the ball-in-hand, but the penalty is conceded in their own half. Ford over this.
59
PAILLIAGUE MISSES FROM THE TEE
He's managed to hit both posts - could be a crucial moment in the match!
MONTPELLIER TRY
A lightning break by the french side and they go from one end to the other in a matter of moments. It's the centre Johan Goosen who finds space as Montpellier find the man over.
57
TIGERS SOLID
We restart with the scrum and Paillaugue feeds on half-way. He goes right, and Tigers immediately stop the attack and win the penalty.
There's just no way past for Montpellier at the moment. Ford clears. Clare with his first line-out, and the maul edges forward. Dan Kelly into the fray, Wiese and then Youngs box kicks.
55
TIGERS DISRUPTING MONTPELLIER FLOW
Montpellier again choose to run things out, but finally go long. Freddie Steward collects and attempts the run, but is held up. Touch found by Paillaugue.
Stole by Tigers in the line-out, but penalty awarded to the French side at the breakdown.
TIGERS REPLACEMENTS
Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Richard Wigglesworth make way for Joe Heyes, Charlie Clare and Ben Youngs.
52
TIGERS PRESSURE
Nemani Nadolo lines up the drive, ball with Tigers still and Ford finds Dan Kelly ball back across to Hanro Liebenberg. Kelly again, breaks the line, but it's fumbled at the breakdown and we'll have the scrum.
52
HIGH BALL PRESSURE FROM TIGERS
Wells charges down the kick at the breakdown from the restart. Montpellier line-out. Scrappy, but still with them. High from the scrum-half. And Tigers with possession.
Pressure on the high ball, sees Paillaugue miss, but the ball goes out. Tigers line-out.
PENALTY KICK MONTPELLIER
Paillaugue scores from a central position off the tee as the French side come back at Tigers immediatly.
50
MONTPELLIER COME AT TIGERS
Montpellier come back at Tigers from the restart, seeing more ball in hand. The first time in the second half the French have seen possession.
Their hard work is rewarded with a penalty and a chance at the posts for Benoit Paillaugue.
FORD CONVERTS
George Ford with a cute kick from out wide and Tigers now seven points to the good at the start of the second half!
TIGERS TRY TO TAKE LEAD
The maul does the job from the line-out and there's no mistake this time! Tigers go over to take the lead in signature fashion! Jasper Wiese continues his try-scoring form.
YELLOW CARD MONTPELLIER
The Montpellier captain Guilem Guirado is shown a yellow for repeat offences in defence.
45
TMO - NO TRY
The try is chalked off, but the decision goes Tigers way and Ford knocks it into touch.
Youngs again readies himself. He finds Calum Green and the maul comes forward. Tigers metres away. The penalty advantage with Tigers, Fordy caught with the ball but Tigers lining up.
Nadolo comes in-field and Moroni finds himself out wide.
43
TIGERS TRY?
Tom Youngs gets things moving again from the touchline, finding Liebenberg and the maul forms. It's moved quick by Ford, and Freddie Steward with space out wide.
Held up and the play comes back Tigers way...and Moroni unleashes Nadolo who heads to the corner....
42
TIGERS SCRUM
Knocked on from the restart and Tigers immediately put the pressure on with the scrum.
Wigglesworth feeds, following the reset. The penalty coming back Tigers way and Ford goes for the corner.
40
SECOND HALF LIVE FROM TWICKENHAM
George Ford kicks off the second half with Montpellier back to 15 men, with the scores level at the break. C'MON TIGGEERRRSS!
HALF-TIME | TIGERS 10-10 MONTPELLIER
A late surge in the first half sees Tigers come back from a 7 point deficit thanks to a try from Harry Wells. All to play for at the break!
40
MONTPELLIER PENALTY MISS
Paillaugue misses from the tee however and Tigers escape unharmed.
40
LATE CHANCE FOR MONTPELLIER
Montpellier happy to continue playing however, and begin going through the phases. A chance to go for the posts late in the half for Montpellier....
40
MURIMURIVALU...ALMOST AWAY
Montpellier go high, but Freddie Steward matches the challenge. Murimurivalu almost away, but the TMO spots a knock-on. Montpellier scrum. The ball comes out, but it's kicked by the French side. Return fire by Steward, and the play fizzles out.
The referee sees the knock-on and calls the scrum. Value for money as the play continues into the fifth minute of added time at the end of the first half.
FORD ADDS EXTRAS
George Ford levelling the scores as the Tigers faithful roar their appreciation! Tigers 10-10 Montpellier.
TRY FOR TIGERS
The Tigers make the man advantage count straight away and it's Harry Wells who finds himself at the bottom of the pack with the ball in hand!
39
TIGERS PRESSURE
Tigers barrelling forward now from the line-out deep in Montpellier's half. It's forced into touch and Youngs with another chance from the whitewash.
It's over the jumpers however, and turned over. Paillaugue with a sliced kick clear. The Tigers skipper finds Liebenberg - the maul ensues. Tigers making metres up to the five metre line.
YELLOW CARD FOR MONTPELLIER
Tom Youngs finds Liebenberg once again from the touchline. Tigers opt to drive forward with the maul. They win the penalty and we're off again quickly.
But Montpellier's number 8 is shown a yellow and Tigers have the man advantage.
TIGERS REPLACEMENT
Tommy Reffell comes on for the injured Cyle Brink.
34
MONTPELLIER STRECTH TIGERS
Montpellier beginning to play at a quicker pace, following quick hands from their scrum-half. The forwards trying to stop the attack, but Wiese gives away the penalty.
Ball still with Montpellier and Lozowski finds touch deep in the Tigers half. Line-out for Guirado the Montpellier captain.
31
FORD MISSES CONVERSION
George Ford going for the goalposts from 10 metres inside the Montpellier half...and it's wide of the posts as Tigers miss the chance to bite into the French side's lead.
30
PATIENT TIGERS
The line-out follows. It goes to the front and Ouedraogo collects short. Turned over by Tigers following the phase. Wigglesworth kicks clear, but return fire from the French side.
Ford gets his boot involved. Nadolo collects and the foot-tennis continues. Freddie Steward sees the ball in hand. Tigers will go back for the earlier offence.
26
TIGERS LINE-OUT MAUL INCOMING...
The signature Tigers set-piece is caught by Wells, It's carried by his teammates and Tigers only five metres out.
But the penalty goes Montpellier's way, just as Tigers had momentum. Paillaugue kicks clear.
25
SCRUM TIME
The tug-of-war continues as both side look high with the ball. Anthony Bouthier collects, but a forward pass follows as we have the scrum just inside the Montpellier half.
After the reset, Wigglesworth gets it moving, but the nudge forward is too far for the chasing pack. We go back for the penalty at the scrum however and Ford finds touch on the right flank.
TIGERS REPLACEMENT
Guy Porter is buggied off as Kini Murimurivalu comes on as his replacement.
21
MONTPELLIER PLAY THINGS OUT
Montpellier play things out from the back with confidence and it's kicked clear. Guy Porter recieving treatment as what looks like a collision on the floor.
20
TIGERS SWITCH UP PLAY
It's a carbon copy of the restart as Fordy's kick sees the line-out forced by Montpellier. Cyle Brink attacks, bringing in Jasper Wiese as he sees the ball in hand.
Held up and kicked clear, and we'll have another set-piece on the Tigers right flank.
Fordy opts for the high ball, but the mark is called.
PENALTY SCORE FOR MONTPELLIER
Paillaugue converts off the tee as Montpellier extend their lead.
16
TIGERS MARCHED...
Tigers get possession back, but concede the penalty and are then marched forward 10 by the refereee, and a chance from the tee again for Paillaugue.
CONVERSION FOR MONTPELLIER
The conversion kicked by Paillaugue as the scores 3-7.
TRY FOR MONTPELLIER
The TMO awards the try for Montpellier as they take the lead for the first time. Rattez with the score for the French side.
14
GAME'S FIRST SCRUM
Tom Youngs gets things moving from the set-piece. Ball turned over in the phase play, and Paillaugue box-kicks clear.
Possession with Montpellier on the half-way in the scrum. Moroni does enough to hold off the attack. A bit of football down the line, and we'll go to the TMO to look at this apparent try for the French outfit...
11
TIGERS WITH PENALTY TO TOUCH
An exchange of kicks from the restart. Tigers pressure forces the short clearance from the chasers.
Ford finds Kelly, Wells gets involved. Ford nudges forward, and the penalty called by the referee.
PENALTY SCORE FOR FORD
George Ford gets the first points of the game from the tee, as Tigers strike first blood in the final.
8
TIGERS SETTLE INTO HALF
Turned over Montpellier, but sliced clear by Benoit Paillaugue. Tom Youngs finds Liebenberg again and the maul rumbles forward.
Ball still with Tigers and Genge comes away with it. A high ball sent searching by Fordy, but the mark called by the Montpellier defence,
6
FORDY PIN-POINT KICK
Wigglesworth gets things moving from the set-piece and he kicks into touch on the right flank, but we go back for the reset.
Fordy finds touch down the left again, as Tigers creep into the Montpellier half. Tom Youngs finds Liebenberg. Genge has a run at the french defence. And Goerge Ford with a pin-point kick to the right corner deep in Montpellier's half.
4
TIGERS DEFEND WELL
Guirado with the line-out as the maul forms, a familiar attack of the Tigers armoury this season, and the referee gives the penalty Tigers way.
Goerge Ford kicks out into touch and Tigers can breathe after the first attack of the game.
2
MONTPELLIER ATTACK
Montpellier on the attack from the off. Tigers having to defend in the early moments.
The big French pack driving forward as Tigers flying into the tackles. The Tiger force the ball into touch in the left flank.
MONTPELLIER V TIGERS | WE'RE OFF!
And Montpellier gets things underway with Tigers 80 minutes away from being European Champions. Tigers playing from left to right from our position here in the West Gantry.
0
10 MINUTES UNTIL KO...
We're just ten minutes away from the kick-off hear at Twickenham for the 2020/21 European Champions Cup between Tigers and Montpellier...
The teams make their way into the changing rooms and the stadium begins to shake with the sound of 10,000 supporters.
SHARE SNAPS FROM #TIGERSATHOME
0
SAY CHEESE...
HOW TIGERS GOT TO THE FINAL
WATCH Tigers route to the final of the European Challenge Cup 2020/21. Got to love a montage…
0
TIGERS COLOURS | BACK AT TWICKENHAM
0
EUROPEAN FINAL PREVIEW
Tigers are in a first Challenge Cup Final after reaching the semi-finals last year and face a Montpellier team who lifted the trophy in 2016.
Montpellier include forwards Fulgence Ouedraogo, Paul Willemse and Bismarck du Plessis plus scrum-half Benoit Paillaugue who all played in that 2016 win over Harlequins and they also name Rugby World Cup winners Handre Pollard and Cobus Reinach in their squad for Friday. Johan Goosen, who is named at centre, played in the Champions Cup semi-final against Tigers for Racing 92 in 2016.
GEORGE FORD - Their squad is full of international players, with World Cup winners as well. We know we are up against a high-quality European team tomorrow.
“It will take a really good, top-end performance from us. You have to be good at the basics, be physical, get a lot of things right, but we are also massively excited about the game.”
Read the full preview here
0
WARM UP'S UNDERWAY
The players from both teams are going through their matchday prep...not a bad setting!
FANS WELCOMED BACK
Tigers fans have made the trip to England HQ for tonight's fixture - the first in front of fans in over a year.
0
MONTPELLIER’S STARTING TEAM
15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Arthur Vincent, 13 Johan Goosen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Benoit Paillaugue; 1 Enzo Forletta, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 3 Mohamed Haouas, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 7 Yacouba Camara, 8 Alexandre Becognee
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Robert Rodgers, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Tyler Duguid, 20 Jacques Du Plessis, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Gabriel N'gandebe
0
THE TIGERS SQUAD
[Club appearances in brackets]
15 Freddie Steward [32]
14 Guy Porter [17]
13 Matías Moroni [15]
12 Dan Kelly [17]
11 Nemani Nadolo [12]
10 George Ford [104]
9 Richard Wigglesworth [13]
1 Ellis Genge [85]
2 Tom Youngs (c) [212]
3 Dan Cole [260]
4 Harry Wells [120]
5 Calum Green [59]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [32]
7 Cyle Brink [16]
8 Jasper Wiese [16]
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Charlie Clare [31]
17 Luan de Bruin [17]
18 Joe Heyes [67]
19 Cameron Henderson [14]
20 Tommy Reffell [44]
21 Ben Youngs [260]
22 Zack Henry [23]
23 Kini Murimurivalu [19]
0
TEAMS CONFIRMED – NO CHANGES
Both teams are as they were announced yesterday with no changes in the 23-men squad.
0
EURO CHALLENGE CUP FINAL | KO ONE HOUR AWAY
We’re live from Twickenham Stadium to bring you all the build-up and commentary from this year’s European Challenge Cup 2020/21 final between Leicester Tigers and Montpellier.
From our position in the West Gallery Gantry, we’ll share photos, tweets and all our matchday previews.