Leicester top pool as Telusa Veainu scores hat-trick against Castres

Ellis Genge finds himself behind two Lions in the England pecking order but on this form the Tiger may not be there for long. Leicester romped to a seven-try win – Telusa Veainu scoring a hat-trick and Jonny May two – but for all their fireworks out wide, Genge was the standout performer in a victory that ignites the team’s European campaign.

Indeed, after he limped off midway through the second half, Castres rallied with three tries – all by David Smith – to pinch an unlikely bonus point. A knee injury to Matt Toomua, who failed to emerge after half-time, threatened to further tarnish Leicester’s evening but Matt O’Connor was optimistic over his loosehead prop after the Tigers moved top of Pool 4. “[They] will have scans during the week. Fingers crossed it’s not too serious,” said O’Connor. “[Ellis], just an ankle and it didn’t look too serious. We’ll have to have a look at it to see where we stand.”

Castres are dreadful travellers. They have not won away against a Premiership team since 2001 and nine changes to their starting lineup suggested they may not be at full tilt. That should not take away from the swashbuckling stuff Leicester produced and, while the French side’s rally did not please O’Connor, it is the highest points tally Castres have conceded in Europe.

“The lads were pretty excited to put out a performance they could hang their hat on and make a statement about our intentions,” added O’Connor. “We would have been more than happy to have it stop at 60, though. There was a softness in defence that is nowhere near our standards and we have to make sure that doesn’t continue.”

For the first hour George Ford was conducting proceedings, Veainu at his slippery best and Genge a battering ram – he made 48 metres for his nine carries – and after three Ford penalties, the Tigers turned it on. The first try began in Leicester’s half with Genge bullocking into anyone willing to stand in his way. The ball was worked wide to the left and Valentino Mapapalangi’s offload to Sione Kalamafoni was a delight before the No8 kicked ahead. May gathered and scored his eighth Tigers try in as many matches – met with a nod of approval from Eddie Jones on the big screen, perhaps more for Genge’s input that May’s.

Genge’s next linebreak set up the second score for Ben Youngs, finished with a dummy by the England scrum-half, and No3 soon followed when Veainu slipped past Smith with ease. Already Castres were done for and it is a measure of how lacklustre they were that Leicester had their first try bonus point of the season before half-time – another smart finish from Veainu. Perhaps this was the Tigers’ all-star backline clicking into top gear for the first time but Castres’ lack of interest in defending was palpable.

May streaked under the posts for his second try a couple of minutes into the second half and Veainu had his hat-trick when finishing off a move started with Ford’s dart up the middle and delightful long pass to Kalamafoni. Even with Castres registering their first try – a close-range finish from the No8 Alex Tulou – and a yellow card to Mapapalangi for bringing down a maul, try No7 was soon on the scoreboard with Nick Malouf getting in on the act after more powerful running from Genge. Joe Ford, on for Toomua, took over kicking duties and duly converted. Genge made way to rapturous applause before a quickfire treble from Smith left a sour taste in the mouth for the Tigers.