 | Calvisano 10 (10) Try: Nitoglia Con: Fraser Pen: Fraser Leicester 33 (62) Tries: Tuilagi (2), Chuter (2), Goode, Murphy (3), Ellis, White Cons: Goode (6) |
Leicester's 10-try rout over pool rivals Calvisano was enough to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup. The Tigers, who finished second in their pool behind Biarritz, clinched their place in the next round as one of the two best pool runners-up.
Geordan Murphy bagged three tries, with Alesana Tuilagi and George Chuter each claiming a brace.
Andy Goode and England duo Julian White and Harry Ellis also went over.
It was Ellis who got the scoring under way when he broke from the back of a ruck, produced a magical little chip and touched down unchallenged.
Moments later Tuilagi opened his account, as some slick passing put him clear.
And such was their dominance, Leicester ensured the necessary bonus point (for scoring four tries or more) by half-time.
First Chuter was driven over by his forwards and then Tuilagi glided over.
Murphy ensured a rout was guaranteed with the visitors' fifth try in first-half injury time.
Both Chuter and Murphy crossed the line once again in the second half, the Tigers hooker once more from the back of the pack, while Murphy's pace was too good for the Italian defenders.
Goode, who also kicked six conversions, added a try before another by Murphy, then White, rounded off a convincing win.
Afterwards, Tigers head coach John Wells said they could still improve, despite their crushing victory.
"Our display was patchy but we scored the tries and got the result," he said after their 10-try romp.
"There were some moments of brilliance but we'll also look back and see there was some rubbish in it as well.
"We wanted a decent display and got one, in parts. We've played some great rugby this season, even if results haven't always have gone our way."
Calvisano: Ravazzolo; Nitoglia, Murgier, Zanoletti, Mazzuccato; Fraser, Canavosio; Bocca, Intoppa, Castrogiovanni; Bernabo, Ngauamo; Mandelli, Zaffiri, Elisara
Replacements: Davo, Moretti, Perugini, Candiago, Griffen, Tuta Vodo, Vaccari
Leicester: Vesty; Tuilagi, Smith, Gibson, Murphy; Goode, Ellis; Rowntree, Chuter, Morris; M Johnson, Kay; W Johnson, Moody, Deacon
Replacements (from):Holford, Buckland, White, Back, Abraham, Bemand, Healey, Cornwell.