Leicester qualified for the European Champions Cup quarter-finals after thrashing Treviso 47-7 at Welford Road. The Tigers’ fifth successive win means they will top Pool Four and also be desperate to finish the pool stage in style next Sunday by winning at Stade Français to boost their chances of a home quarter-final.
The bonus point win puts them on 23 points and the only other time they have started a campaign with five straight victories was in 2001-02 when they won the cup for a second successive season.
Leicester, with the England centre Manu Tuilagi making his first start for 15 months after a groin injury, scored seven tries in front of a crowd of 19,076 through Mike Fitzgerald, a penalty try, Vereniki Goneva, Adam Thompstone, Ben Youngs, Freddie Burns, who kicked five conversions, and Laurence Pearce.
Treviso, bottom of the Guinness Pro12 and without a win in 16 matches, replied through Andrea Pratichetti, while Simone Ferrari was sent to the sin bin.
Munster saved some face from their disappointing Champions Cup campaign with a 26-13 bonus point win over Stade Français at Thomond Park. The Irish province avoided their worst European run of four successive defeats, with their try-scoring captain and Ireland hopeful CJ Stander producing a man-of-the-match display.
In Pool One, Toulouse, the four-times champions, continued their miserable campaign with a 32-14 defeat at Oyonnax. The home side sent their compatriots bottom with a bonus-point win – their first victory of this year’s campaign.
Meanwhile Gloucester qualified for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 20-10 win over La Rochelle.
