Clermont Auvergne 30-12 Leicester

Fofana has been tipped to play for France in next year's Six Nations

Wesley Fofana scored two tries as Clermont Auvergne outclassed Leicester to go top of Heineken Cup Pool Four.

Morgan Parra kicked the hosts ahead before Ben Youngs scored a try against the run of play for Leicester.

Parra kicked two more penalties and converted Julien Malzieu's try to make it 16-5 to Clermont at half-time.

Leicester's fate was sealed when Manu Tuilagi and George Chuter were sin-binned and Fofana scored twice before Clermont gave away a late penalty try.

England's two-time winners were always likely to be second best at a ground where the hosts have now won their last 35 matches in all competitions.

Parra kicked Clermont into an early lead after lock Julien Pierre was pulled down in the line-out.

Leicester hit back when Toby Flood booted the ball downfield, Manu Tuilagi turned over possession and fed Youngs, who sprinted down the left flank to score.

It proved the high point of on an otherwise difficult half for Leicester as Parra kicked two penalties before Alesana Tuilagi spilt the ball under pressure from Aurelien Rougerie.

Fofana picked up possession and fed wing Malzieu, who surged over, with Parra adding the extras to make it 16-5.

Leicester went down to 13 men 10 minutes into the second half when Manu Tuilagi and Chuter were both sin-binned for high tackles on Vincent Debaty and Parra respectively.

Clermont made the numerical advantage count as Fofana broke through the Leicester defensive line to score his first try.

His second arrived on 66 minutes when he latched on to a Brock James grubber kick and touched down.

Leicester were awarded a late consolation try, converted by Flood, after Clermont collapsed a scrum in front of their own posts.

The Tigers, now third in the group behind Ulster, will be looking for revenge when Clermont visit Welford Road on Saturday, 17 December.

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: "We stuck in there and we did deny them a bonus point. That means there are still points to play for when we bring them back to Welford Road next weekend.

"We will just crack on in this competition. The best side won on the day and obviously the yellow cards didn't help us.

"We have to go home, lick our wounds and prepare for next week's return game."

"The atmosphere in Clermont is pretty volatile. The crowd cheer and everybody is lying on the floor like they have been shot.

"The referee deals with the decision as he sees fit. Alan Rolland is a good referee and he dealt with it."

TEAMS:

Clermont Auvergne: Byrne, Sivivatu, Rougerie, Fofana, Malzieu, James, Parra, Debaty, Kayser, Zirakashvili, Pierre, Hines, Vosloo, Lapandry, Bonnaire.

Replacements: King for Rougerie (78), Kotze for Debaty (68), Paulo for Kayser (46), Ric for Zirakashvili (36), Cudmore for Pierre (71), Vermeulen for Hines (75).

Not Used: Senio, Skrela.

Sin Bin: Bonnaire (71).

Leicester: Murphy, Agulla, Smith, M. Tuilagi, A. Tuilagi, Flood, B. Youngs, Ayerza, Chuter, Castrogiovanni, Deacon, Skivington, Croft, Salvi, Waldrom.

Replacements: Stankovich for Agulla (49), Twelvetrees for Smith (7), Cole for Castrogiovanni (61), Slater for Deacon (74).

Not Used: Hawkins, Mafi, Harrison, Hamilton.

Sin Bin: M. Tuilagi (49), Chuter (49).

Att: 18,000

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)