- Pool 4: Leicester 35-26 Stormers
- Pollard scores 20 points, including a try, in bonus-point victory
It is a lopsided rugby world when a leading South African province has to travel up to Europe with a below‑strength side in the depths of December to play an English club bolstered significantly by a couple of Springbok World Cup winners. The chances of Handré Pollard sending his compatriots home empty-handed always felt pretty high and, sure enough, 20 points from their high-profile fly‑half was enough to secure a valuable bonus-point victory for the hosts.
The coup de grace was slightly delayed, however, as an initially under-par Leicester flirted with potential embarrassment before Pollard’s haul and a couple of tries from the powerful centre Solomone Kata tipped the contest towards the Tigers. It was not until Pollard converted his own 74th‑minute try to put his side 30-23 ahead that normal service looked like being restored, with the winger Josh Bassett sliding over for the crucial fourth try in the final minute.
Written by Robert Kitson at Mattioli Woods Welford Road
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/dec/10/leicester-stormers-champions-cup-rugby-union-match-report under the title “Handré Pollard inspires Leicester to Champions Cup win against Stormers”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
