Leicester Tigers booked a place in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals with beating ASM Clermont Auvergne over two legs in the Round of 16.

Playing in the unfamiliar situation of aggregate scores counting over the two games, Tigers followed up a win in France with a 27-17 verdict in the return at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday to win 56-27 overall and book a quarter-final home meeting with Leinster Rugby.

Tigers, who led 29-10 from the opening leg after scoring five tries at the Stade Marcel-Michelin six days ago, stated all week that the job was still to be done and led 7-3 at half-time in the return fixture thanks to a Hanro Liebenberg try scored after just nine minutes.

Matt Scott, on as a replacement, provided the next try in the early stages of the second half and Freddie Steward added amnother following a penalty try in front of a 22,722 crowd in the Easter sunshine.

Chasing a quarter-final place for the first time since 2016, Tigers called Nic Dolly into the front row after starting on the bench in France, while Steve Borthwick also brought in Harry Wells and Eli Snyman to start.

Clermont were led by hooker Yohan Beheregaray as France Under-20s scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau made his first start for the club and, back from a year-long injury absence, Samuel Ezeala provided cover at centre and wing from the bench.

After tributes to former Tigers player Arthur Hazlerigg and Chief Constable Simon Cole ahead of kick-off, Clermont got the game started and were immediately on the attack, play remaining in the Tigers 22 for long stretches of the opening exchanges before the defence won a penalty on the floor to a huge cheer from the home crowd.

Clermont stayed in possession, though, forcing Tigers into their defensive sets, until a wayward pass flew into touch.

During the pause, Clermont lost centre George Moala to injury, their second change after lock Miles Amatorsero withdrew in their warm-up.

Tigers got out of their half for the first time on nine minutes and immediately made the most of the opportunity with an opening try for Liebenberg, dragging defenders with him as he reached for the line next to the posts at the Mattioli Woods Stand end after a carry from Ellis Genge. George Ford added the kick for a 7-0 lead.

Dolly won a defensive penalty over the ball after Wesley Fofana inspired another ASM attack but the game was still being played predominantly at that end of the field.

A pinpoint kick to the right-hand corner from a penalty gave them another chance in attack, though Steward – in his 50th first-team appearance – twice wrapped up Fofana close in. Penalties were mounting up, though, and when the whistle went against Tigers again, referee Andrew Brace spoke to captain Genge as Camille Lopez called for the kicking tee. His kick made it 7-3 on 15 minutes.

Dan Kelly’s kick and Chris Ashton’s chase pushed Clermont back, but play was halted for a forward pass when Genge thundered into the line.

Matias Moroni and Harry Potter joined forces to stop a dangerous break from Alivereti Raka which started back in his own half, but Tigers were whistled again near halfway, allowing the visitors to build on set-piece ball kicked to the left.

When they applied pressure near the posts, Ford’s kick was charged down in-goal but scrum-half Jauneau touched down on the deadball line and the referee denied the score after checking replays.

Tigers won turnover ball in defence but were penalised again as they contested a breakdown on halfway and had to defend more Clermont possession before forcing an error and kicking upfield.

Liebenberg and then Steward made breaks as the pace continued, finally bringing a penalty in Tigers’ favour on the left edge of their rivals’ 22 with play entering the final 10 minutes of the half.

A lineout drive set up a position for Harry Wells to attack the tryline but the ball bobbled loose just short of the score.

Steward carried again after a wayward kick from Lopez and, when Jack van Poortvliet pushed play into the corner, Ashton gambled as he flung himself towards the ball as it bounced in-goal as Jauneau tracked back. The referee ruled no try, with play restarting on the five-metre line with a Clermont scrum from the knock-on.

With time almost out, Jauneau latched on to loose ball just inside the Leicester half and he looked destined for the left-hand corner, but his pass inside as the defence closed in was dropped by hooker Yohan Beheregaray.

Kelly fell as he raced back in that defensive effort, though, and was helped off the field as Scott came off the bench.

The crowd screamed for a knock-on when Clermont fielded a Ford clearance, but play continued, until Steward’s pass to Ashton floated forward on the opposition 22 in the closing action of the half, with Tigers 23 points ahead on aggregate scores.

When the game restarted, Tommy Reffell had to reach out to bring down Fofana with an ankle tap as he found a gap near halfway and the flanker was back in the line to force a knock-on and turnover.

A break by van Poortvliet was stopped 10 metres out and Clermont quickly blocked progress as Tigers tried to spread play out wide.

Referee Brace whistled against Clermont at their scrum and Ford kicked the points for a 10-3 advantage as Borthwick sent on Charlie Clare, Calum Green and Ben Youngs from the bench.

The crowd cheered a second scrum penalty moments later and this time Ford took play to the left corner, where Scott provided a second try.

Harry Wells secured the ineout ball, Reffell took play on and then, when Ford switched to go left, he put the flanker back in possession and Scott stepped off his left foot to run in and score, putting Tigers 15-3 in front on the day.

Lopez pushed Tigers back with a penalty to the corner soon afterwards and, although Ollie Chessum wrapped up ball, the referee said he had done it illegally and Clermont opted for a scrum just five metres out.

They stayed on the attack, recycling in the face of strong defence until finally creating space for Raka to score on the right and replacement Morgan Parra added the conversion to make it 15-10.

When lock Paul Jedrasiak intercepted a Tigers attack, Steward pushed him back towards his own line and Clermont hooker Etienne Fourcade was yellow-carded as he stopped the turnover opportunity. Charlie Clare thought he’d scored as Tigers drove towards the line and although the referee initially awarded it, he called for TMO assistance and instead, yellow-carded prop Daniel Bibi Biziwu and gavea penalty try.

Tigers, though, then lost Chessum to a red card after checks on a high tackle, but the home team still ended the game on the front foot, playing out in the visitors’ half.