Bassett shines to make sure for Leicester

JOSH warmed Bassett the hands and hearts of the Welford Road faithful with a fine hat-trick as Tigers cruised into the Champions Cup knockout stages.

- GARY FITZGERALD

The wing recovered from early handling and slipping hiccups to shine on a freezing cold night with Leicester thrashing their Irish rivals with six of the best.

Tigers compensated for a lack of undersoil heating by making sure the pitch was playable with hot air keeping the frost at bay under a giant tent.

And the hosts were both hot and cold in a first half which saw them trail early on but eventually claw out a 12-10 interval lead.

But once they turned up the heat and pressure in the second half they blew Ulster losing their third successive game in Europe away with ease.

Michael Cheika's men were both physically and mentally off the pace in the opening stages and endured a miserable start.