Intro:

Leicester Tigers beat twice defending European champions Toulon 25-21 in the Pool 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup on Sunday (7 December).

Script:

Martin Castrogiovanni was in the starting line-up for Toulon on his return to Welford Road to take on Leicester.

Toulon had begun Pool 3 with a home win over the Scarlets, followed by an impressive 23-13 victory at Ravenhill over Ulster.

Another difficult away day was in prospect for the two-time defending champions against two-time former European winners Leicester.

The Tigers raced to a 13-0 lead thanks to two Owen Williams penalties and a try from their 39-year-old lock Brad Thorn after Australian Drew Mitchell failed to gather scrum half Sebastien Tillous-Borde's wild pass.

It was the World Cup winning All Black's first try for Leicester.

Nicolas Sanchez kicked two penalties to make it 13-6 and Toulon drew level as Williams' pass was intercepted by South African winger Bryan Habana, a man who is rarely caught once he sets off.

Williams nudged Leicester back in front with another penalty after the break.

Toulon turned over Leicester at scrum time and Tillous-Borde put Mitchell in for an easy finish to make it 18-16 to the French side.

Again Williams struck from the tee, twice, and Leicester led 22-18 in a topsy-turvy game.

Sanchez slotted over a three-pointer to make it a one-point game again

But it was man-of-the-match Williams who was to have the final say, he landed a penalty from inside his own half to seal an impressive 25-21 win for Richard Cockerill's side.