Tigers blown away by impressive Bordeaux
Investec Champions Cup
Bordeaux Begles 42 (14)
Tries: Samu (2), Petti, Bielle-Biarrey (2), Depoortere Cons: Jalibert (6)
Leicester 28 (21)
Tries: Wells, Bassett, Joussain, Perese Cons: Shillcock (4)
Leicester Tigers saw their hopes of an opening win in the European Cup blown away by a flurry of second-half tries by impressive Bordeaux Begles.
The Tigers had led at the break, but three tries in six minutes by the hosts just after the resumption swung the game decisively in Bordeaux's favour.
France international back Louis Bielle-Biarrey grabbed two classy tries in Bordeaux's dominant spell, while forward Pete Samu also crossed twice.
Leicester earned a valuable bonus point when Izaia Perese scored their fourth try with the last play of the match at a blustery Stade Chaban-Delmas.
The Tigers began in fine style when Harry Wells barged over following a lineout, but the lock spilled the ball soon after the restart to allow Samu the chance to score the first of the number eight's two tries.
Josh Bassett touched down acrobatically in the corner to restore the lead, extended by a superb conversion from Jamie Shillcock, but Bordeaux were level when Guido Petti spotted a gap in Leicester's lineout for a try converted by Matthieu Jalibert.
Come Joussain, the only French player in the English Premiership, marked his Leicester debut in style when he crashed over for the Tigers' third try to see them lead 21-14 at the break.
However, Bordeaux hit their stride in a devastating spell early in the second half. Bielle-Biarrey latched onto a dropped ball to run onto and score from his chip ahead, then Samu collected a Jalibert kick to give the hosts the lead before Bielle-Biarrey went in under the posts.
Nicolas Depoortere ran in unopposed for Bordeaux's sixth and final try, but despite tiring during the onslaught, Leicester grabbed a chance for a bonus point when Perese bundled himself over following a fine run from Hanro Liebenberg.
Bordeaux among cup contenders?
Edged out by Harlequins in an epic quarter-final last season, Bordeaux Begles will be among the contenders for this season's European Cup if they can carry on in this vein.
But Leicester also showed how sides can contend with the team currently second in the French Top 14, with Stade Chaban-Delmas fairly quiet until the second-half blitz that turned the game.
The Tigers spent long spells in the Bordeaux half, but seemed to have exhausted themselves by the time Depoortere scored.
Perese's bonus-point try was a small consolation, but Leicester will need to convert pressure into points when they host Sharks, who beat Exeter 39-21 in their opener, next Saturday.
Line-ups
Bordeaux Begles: Bielle-Biarrey; Penaud, Depoortere, Moefana, Retiere; Jalibert, Lucu (capt); Poirot, Lamothe, Tameifuna, Petti, Gray, Diaby, Vergnes-Taillefer, Samu.
Replacements: Sa, Boniface, Sadie, Coleman, Swinton, Tatafu, Tapuai, Carbery.
Leicester Tigers: Steward; Bassett, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Shillcock, Van Poortvliet (capt); Cronin, Clare, Heyes, Wells, Joussain, Liebenberg, Ilione, Cracknell.
Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Whitcombe, Hurd, Holloway, Hatherell, Whiteley, Woodward, Brown.
