Flashback: Tigers one-point win over Stade

This week’s Flashback goes back ten years to look at the tightest of European Cup quarter-final fixtures between Leicester and Stade Français.

April 1, 2007

Tom Varndell scored a 72nd minute try to see the Leicester Tigers through to the Heineken Cup semi-finals after a 21-20 win over Stade Français at Welford Road.

Varndell’s try gave the Leicester Tigers the boost they needed to creep into the Semi-finals where they would beat Llanelli Scarlets 33-17 but then lose to London Wasps 25-9 in the final.

Leicester had secured themselves a spot in the Quarter-finals after drawing at the top of Pool 4 with Munster with both sides finishing on 23 points.

Tigers wing Seru Rabeni scored the first points and try of the match three minutes in to give his side an early lead. The Fijian international crossed the whitewash after full-back Geordan Murphy sucked in the defence and gave a well-weighted pass to Rabeni to score.

The trusty boot of French fly-half David Skrela kept Stade Français’s side of the score board constantly ticking.

Stade Français would start looking like the dominant force in the game after Argentine legend Juan Martín Hernández scored a try in the 20th minute after he used his quick feet to dance around defenders Hipkiss and Daryl Gibson to dot down.

Skrela and Tiger’s number 10 Andy Goode would trade three-pointers for most of the game till Varndell scored in the last ten minutes of the clash to give his side the one-point advantage. The flyer was able to grab the five pointer after Hipkiss broke the defensive line and swung wide to Varndell to score.

Votre plus beau plaquage by StadeFrancaisParis

The scorers:

For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Rabeni, Varndell
Cons: Goode
Pens: Goode 3

For Stade Français:
Try: Hernández
Cons: Skrela 4
Pen: Skrela

Leicester Tigers: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Seru Rabeni, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Daryl Gibson, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Martin Corry 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Lewis Moody, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza,
Replacements: 16 Gavin Hickie, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Brett Deacon, 20 Frank Murphy, 21 Ian Humphreys, 22 Tom Varndell

Stade Français: 15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Julien Arias, 13 Stéphane Glas, 12 Brian Liebenberg, 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 David Skrela, 9 Agustin Pichot, 8 Sergio Parisse 7 Rémy Martin, 6 Pierre Rabadan, 5 Mike James, 4 Boela du Plooy, 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Rodrigo Roncero,
Replacements: 16 Mathieu Blin, 17 Juan Gomez, 18 Arnaud Marchois, 19 Antoine Burban, 20 Jérôme Fillol, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Mirco Bergamasco

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)