Tigers rout hapless Stade
The six tries to one victory at Welford Road on Sunday saw the English giants clinically dismantle a French team that gave the appearance of a club in disarray.
Freddie Burns notched up 16 points in a star performance.
The Tigers built up a healthy 24-6 first-half lead – thanks to three tries from England centre Manu Tuilagi, Fijian wing Niki Goneva and Burns.
Stade hit back when scrumhalf Julien Dupuy scored a five-pointer for the reigning French league champions early in the second half.
But any hopes of a serious comeback by the Parisian club that currently sits 12th in the Top 14 was put to rest when Goneva crossed for his second.
Flank Mike Fitzgerald went over for Leicester's fifth try, with 20 minutes to play, after being fed by an unselfish Goneva.
The game was put out of sight when Tongan wing Telusa Veainu streaked over in the corner to ensure a first semifinal appearance for the Tigers since 2009.
Leicester, winners of the European Cup in 2001 and 2002, are bidding for an unprecedented fourth straight European crown.
The other all-English semifinal was settled on Saturday, after Saracens posted a 29-20 victory over Northampton and Wasps saw off Exeter 25-24.
Man of the match: You can always bank on Sergio Parisse to produce a spirited performance, even if his constant whinging becomes annoying. Tigers centre Peter Betham would have been many's choice for his classy midfield display and Telusa Veainu also put his hands up with a barnstorming performance on the Leicester wing. However, our award goes to Tigers flyhalf Freddie Burns – who was much more valuable than just the 16 points he scored.
The scorers:
For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Tuilagi, Gonevam 2, Burns, Fitzgerald, Veainu
Cons: Burns 4
Pen: Burns
For Stade Francais:
Try: Dupuy
Con: Steyn
Pens: Steyn 2
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Mathew Tait (captain), 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Mike Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Adam Thompstone.
Stade Français: 15 Djibril Camara, 14 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Jérémy Sinzelle, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Raphaël Lakafia, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Remi Bonfils, 1 Zurabi Zhvania.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Paul Alo Emile, 19 Paul Gabrillagues, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Julien Tomas, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Hugo Bonneval.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Sources: AFP & @rugby365com
