Quarter-finals showdown for ferocious Leicester Tigers

Leicester claimed a spirited 9-5 win over Toulouse at Welford Road this afternoon to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
The outcome of the game took a long time to be decided with Toulouse playing with a one-man advantage in the last ten minutes but the Tigers‘ effort in defence was outstanding and they will now face favourites Toulon in the South of France in April.
With the snow coming down hard on the Welford Road pitch, the basics and the ability to turn territory into points was always going to be key and at this game, Leicester clearly came on top.
The home side dominated the set piece and, even if their kicking game wasn’t up to scratch, the boot of Toby Flood rewarded the hard work of his pack by slotting three first-half penalties.
Despite the poor conditions, Toulouse tried to play some rugby but, with 17 points from the tee and at least three very good field positions left behind, never gave themselves a chance to overturn a ferocious Tigers side.
Flood put Leicester on the board early with a penalty before Toulouse found their feet but were unable to turn their domination into points.
Fly-half Lionel Beauxis and All-Black Luke McAlister missed three penalties and it was Flood who put the Tigers 6-0 in front instead with another penalty.
Toulouse wasted another opportunity when, after Louis Picamoles was refused a try by the Television Match Official, the Toulouse scrum was penalised five metres out and again Flood punished them with a monster penalty from inside his own half to see Leicester lead 9-0 at the break.
Toulouse finally got on the scoreboard ten minutes into the second half when Matthew Tait couldn’t control a high kick from McAlister to see winger Yohan Huget stumble over the loose ball and score.
Beauxis was unsuccessful again from the tee but the French were back within four points with 30 minutes to go.
The French giants were handed a huge boost when Flood was sent to the bin with just over ten minutes to go for an intentional knock-on as they were breaking down field but they were unable to score again and will face Perpignan in the Amlin Cup quarter-finals.
For Leicester
Penalties: Flood 3
Sin bin: Flood
For Toulouse
Try: Huget
Leicester: Tait; Morris, Smith, Allen, Thompstone; Flood, B. Youngs; Ayerza, T. Youngs, Cole; Deacon, Parling; Mafi, Salvi, Waldrom.
Replacements: Hawkins, Mulipola, Castrogiovanni, Slater, Crane, Harrison, Ford, Hamilton.
Toulouse: Poitrenaud; Clerc, Fritz, McAlister, Huget; Beauxis, Doussain; Steenkamp, Tolofua, Johnston; Maestri, Albacete; Lamboley, Dusautoir (capt.), Picamoles.
Replacements: Montès, Kakovin, Botha, Millo-Chluski, Nyanga, Burgess, Jauzion, Médard.
Referee: George Clancy
Star-man: Louis Deacon – Leicester Tigers
NICK VERDIER
You can relive all the action from Welford Road here.