Tigers lose drab contest

Biarritz 23 Leicester 8

It was billed as a classic but ended as one of the worst Heineken Cup encounters since the tournament began.

Events as this contest drew to a close at Parc des Sports Aguilera underlined the game’s failings.

Having failed with every other form of attacking weapon the Tigers went back to basics with attempts at driving mauls from line-outs close to the home line.

But on each of the four occasions that skipper Martin Johnson called the ploy, the home side were a match for his pack’s muscle.

That series of close-quarter action ended when Biarritz snaffled possession for scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili to put the game out of its misery by slamming the ball into touch.

Yachvili had also scored his side’s last points just four minutes into the second half.

By that stage the contest was effectively over even though visiting centre Seru Rabeni made up for earlier failings with the Tigers’ only try on a perfect day for running rugby.

Johnson had arrived back with his team-mates on the eve of the game following a gruelling midweek trip to Singapore for a testimonial dinner.

But while he managed to shake off the ill effects of his arduous travel arrangements the rest of his team-mates played as if they had been around the world.

Fly-half Andy Goode had a serious off day with his kicking out of hand as his inability to direct kicks accurately cost his side momentum and morale.

But Goode’s failings were not the only reason that Leicester gifted the initiative to the home side.

England stars Lewis Moody and Julian White were each spotted raising their hands in the direction of opponents, costing Leicester hard-won ground.

Goode got his side on the scoreboard first with a penalty after four minutes as Biarritz were penalised by Irishman Donal Courtney for their second misdemeanour at the scrum.

But after Moody took offence to home second-row forward David Couzinet, Yachvili drew his side level after 13 minutes.

Twelve minutes later Leicester’s enthusiastic band of travelling fans were treated to the sight of French rugby in full flow.

First flanker Steve Malonga dislodged the ball from Will Johnson’s arms, then France star Damien Traille followed up before midfield partner Martin Arramburu arrived to charge spectacularly to the line.

Arramburu did so with Rabeni holding on unsuccessfully for 10 metres and Yachvili converted to rub salt into the Tigers’ wounds.

After 29 minutes Biarritz produced another piece of magic which ended with wing Jimmy Marlu latching on to Nicolas Brusque’s well-placed grubber kick.

Yachvili dropped a goal three minutes into first-half injury time after White had spoiled one of Leicester’s best platforms by punching home number eight Imanol Harinordoquy.

That gave the home side the 20-3 half-time lead that proved too big a hurdle for Leicester to overcome.