Dan McKellar reflects on 'special' Leicester Tigers win over Stade Francais in Investec Champions Cup

Head coach Dan McKellar believes Leicester Tigers are "building momentum" after their stunning Investec Champions Cup victory over Stade Francais.

A late penalty from Jamie Shillcock earned a narrow 27-24 win in Paris, after hooker Archie Vanes had earlier scored a hat-trick.

The result left the visitors in second spot in Pool 4, level with first placed Leinster on nine points thanks to two wins from two games.

It was also a fifth success in a row across all competitions since mid-November.

And McKellar hailed his team for a performance and result that he will never forget.

"It’s a game I will remember for as long as I live,” he said. "Winning in that fashion, away from home in tough place to come; it’s special.

"These are the memories you take with you and we’re building momentum now.”

It took Vanes just eight minutes to run home his first try, only for Mathieu Hirigoyen and Charles Laloi to put the hosts ahead.

Leicester were then back in front before the hour mark, with their 22-year old hooker completing his hat-trick with two tries in quick succession.

But there was more drama to come, as Leo Barre's converted try equalised for Stade Francais.

Shillcock proved the Tigers' hero though, kicking a penalty that earned a famous victory.

"It was a Leicester Tigers performance, full of fight and commitment to your mate beside you," continued McKellar.

"That’s what the club’s always been built on. We came here with a plan and belief that we could win if we stuck to it, and we did that.”

The Tigers' next Champions Cup game is also in France, away to La Rochelle, in mid-January, before they welcome Leinster to Welford Road two weeks later.

They are looking to repeat their heroics of 2001 and 2002, when they won back-to-back editions of the tournament by beating Stade Francais and Munster, respectively.

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