Tame Tigers crash out of Europe

LEICESTER boss Marcelo Loffreda has offered no excuses after the double Heineken Cup winners were rushed out of Europe with indecent haste.

The Tigers, European champions in 2001 and 2002, have become England’s first major casualty of a tournament Guinness Premiership clubs look like dominating this season. London Irish, Gloucester, Saracens and holders Wasps are all queuing up to claim prized quarter-final places.

Leicester though, must ruefully reflect on just a third pool stage exit in 11 European campaigns after being undone 17-12 by Andy Robinson’s Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

Loffreda, who led Argentina to the World Cup semi-finals just three months ago, said: “Obviously, we are bitterly disappointed. We had three penalties in the last 10 minutes, yet didn’t go for goal with a single one.

“This was a game we could have won, and if we had kicked a couple of goals in that period we could have put pressure on Edinburgh and the result might have been very different.

“But we were not surprised by Edinburgh. We expected them to be strong at home.”

Tries by Ross Ford and Phil Godman saw Edinburgh avenge a 39-0 Pool Six drubbing at Leicester earlier in the tournament, and former England head coach Robinson said: “It was one of the best performances since I came to the club.”

Toulouse, despite a 20-13 loss to Leinster, will top the group if they subdue Edinburgh at home next Saturday.

Saracens moved to within a point of their first Heineken Cup quarter-final appearance by blitzing French giants Biarritz. Saracens’ stunning 45-16 demolition left Biarritz reeling from their heaviest defeat in 57 Heineken Cup games. And it means the London side need only a point from next Friday’s Pool Four trip to Glasgow, who were 18-15 victors over Viadana in Italy. A bonus point success would see Saracens progress as top seeds.

London Irish are also in control of their destiny, knowing a bonus point success away to Treviso guarantees the Pool One spoils and should secure a home quarter-final tie. The Exiles completed a 41-24 Madejski Stadium mauling of Newport Gwent Dragons, a performance highlighted by number eight Richard Thorpe’s try hat-trick.

Perpignan, meanwhile, stayed just one point behind Irish after thrashing Treviso 55-13, helped by three tries from hooker Guilhem Guirado.