Salesi Rayasi scored a hat-trick as Bordeaux ran in nine tries and thumped Leicester 64-14 in the Investec Champions Cup at Stade Chaban Delmas.
The rout got under way when Maxime Lucu slotted a sixth-minute penalty and they followed it up with the first of five first-half tries in the 20th minute when Cameron Woki crashed over from close range to make it 10-0.
The floodgates well and truly opened and Bordeaux ran in four tries in the space of 12 minutes before the break, firstly when Rayasi zoomed over the whitewash before Lucu ran in under the posts and further efforts from Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Maxime Lamothe to make it 36-0 at the halfway stage.
Leicester got themselves on the board three minutes into the second period when Izaia Perese ran in under the posts following a careless pass but Ben Tameifuna brushed off the challenge of a few defenders to make sure he restored the hosts’ 36-point advantage.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey was among the tryscorers
Tigers showed great spirit in the second half to grab another try, this time Leicester worked it right and substitute Billy Searle walked in the simplest try of the contest.
That was all the joy Leicester had though, and Bordeaux scored three more tries courtesy of two Rayasi efforts which earned him a hat-trick either side of Arthur Retiere’s try, which wrapped up a convincing 50-point victory to book a home quarter-final with rivals Toulouse.
Dragons stun Stade Francais
Wyn Jones’ last-gasp try sent Dragons into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 36-31 win over Stade Francais.
Angus O’Brien’s penalty put Dragons ahead early on and the full-back found their opening try of the match before converting. Brodie Coghlan then grounded from a maul, with O’Brien adding the extras.
Despite Dragons’ strong start, Stade Francais fought back on the stroke of half-time when Samuel Ezeala went over twice in quick succession, with Louis Foursans-Bourdette converting both tries to close the gap on the visitors, who led 17-14 at the break.
The hosts then went ahead for the first time shortly after the restart when Yoan Tanga crossed and Foursans-Bourdette converted before successfully kicking a penalty minutes later.
Chris Coleman’s try was converted by O’Brien as Dragons drew level but Ezeala bagged his hat-trick and Zack Henry converted to restore Stade Francais’ advantage.
An entertaining finale saw Elliot Dee ground from the maul, but O’Brien was unable to convert and missed a penalty with four minutes to play before Wyn Jones crossed in the 79th minute, with O’Brien adding the extras to send Dragons into the final eight.
