Leicester Tigers 28 Sale Sharks 23: A victory that's better than it looks

In recent years, the inability to secure a bonus-point win over Sale Sharks would have been viewed as a disappointing result, but as Leicester Tigers found out on New Year’s Day, things have changed. Richard Cockerill’s side moved into the play-offs for the first time this season with a hard-fought 28-23 victory, but the last-minute drop-goal by Nick Macleod that brought Sale a losing-bonus-point muted the home crowd.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

Leicester Tigers 23 Clermont Auvergne 19: Back in contention in the Heineken Cup (just)

For some, the tradition at Christmas is watching The Snowman, drinking a glass of Baileys and picking at a box of chocolates. For Leicester, the tradition is a do-or-die Heineken Cup double header against a top French side. In recent years Welford Road has seen a draw with Perpignan in 2010, a win against Clermont Auvergne in 2009 and a win against Perpignan in 2008. For 2011's festive match-up, Leicester were able to navigate their way through a tense encounter to beat Clermont 23-19.

Source: AFP (courtesy of Daily Telegraph)

Clermont Auvergne 30 Leicester Tigers 12: The French Top 14 humbles the Aviva Premiership

Leicester Tigers fans had started to get used to some regularity in their team’s performances after the turbulence of the World Cup period. A few things could be relied upon: the team’s bettered discipline; patient building of pressure through the phases, and; a true openside flanker tackling everything that moves. In losing 12-30 to Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, all things regular bowed to the superiority of Vern Cotter’s side.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Gloucester 14 Leicester Tigers 19: The resurgence continues

I mentioned in last week’s post that the battle of attrition against Ulster would be a good warm-up for the upcoming double header against Clermont Auvergne, but little did I realise that it could also act as a rehearsal for a pulsating and hard-fought 19-14 win at Kingsholm. From the statistics, this was a match that Gloucester really should have won, but a resolute team display and some individual moments of brilliance secured the four points for Leicester.

Source: Getty Images (courtesy of Daily Mail)