Tigers head to Toulon this weekend looking to cause a major upset against the defending double European Champions in their own backyard. Richard Cockerill has made three changes to the side that won at Welford Road on Sunday whilst Bernard Laporte, his Toulon counterpart, has reacted to Castrogiovanni's outburst by dropping the combustible Italian.
All three changes for Leicester come to the pack that laid last weekend's winning foundation. In the front row Tom Youngs swops places with Italian international Leonardo Ghiraldini; at lock Graham Kitchener misses out injured giving Geoff Parling his first start since September; in the back row Robert Barbieri starts only his 4th game for the club as Jordan Crane is benched.
This means that Ben Youngs and Owen Williams continue at half back, with Matt Smith staying in the midfield and Goneva on the wing. The back line is rounded out with Allen at centre, Blaine Scully on the wing and Mat Tait looking to match the performance of his last visit to Toulon from full back.
The bench sees a 6-2 forwards-backs split to accommodate the return to fitness of Tom Croft. The Lion joins Tom Youngs, Sebastian de Chaves & Jordan Crane as additions to the bench whilst Miles Benjamin misses out. Freddie Burns & Sam Harrison provide cover for the backs.
Toulon have reacted to their defeat by also making three changes. Out go Castrogiovanni, Australian wing Drew Mitchell & Georgian flanker Mamuka Gorgodze. In comes Leigh Halfpenny, South African World Cup winner Juan Smith and young Georgian tyro Levan Chilachava. Former Bath man Michael Claassens comes onto the bench for Eric Esconde.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Dan Cole
4 Brad Thorn
5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Robert Barbieri
Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Michele Rizzo
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian de Chaves
20 Jordan Crane
21 Tom Croft
22 Sam Harrison
23 Freddie Burns
RC Toulon:
15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Delon Armitage
13 Mathieu Bastareaud
12 Maxime Mermoz
11 Bryan Habana
10 Nicolas Sanchez
9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1 Alexandre Menini
2 Guilhem Guirado
3 Levan Chilachava
4 Bakkies Botha
5 Ali Williams
6 Juan Smith
7 Steffon Armitage
8 Chris Masoe (c)
Replacements
16 Jean-Charles Orioli
17 Florian Fresia
18 Carl Hayman
19 Mamuka Gorgodze
20 James O'Connor
21 Jocelino Suta
22 Michael Claassens
23 Romain Taofifenua
Showing posts with label team named. Show all posts
Showing posts with label team named. Show all posts
Friday, 12 December 2014
Friday, 12 September 2014
5 changes as Tigers head to Sandy Park
Leicester Tigers welcome back British Lions duo Geoff Parling and Tom Youngs to the starting line up after the pair have recovered from minor knocks. Also returning to the Tigers line up is Mat Tait, the 38 times England international, at full back and Anthony Allen to the centres. Robert Barbieri makes his Premiership starting debut a week after his unusual control at the base of the ruck immediately endeared him to Tigers fans.
Niall Morris switches to the wing to make room for Tait, from last week's 23 Scully and Seremaia Bai miss out entirely with Matt Smith retaining his place on the bench. Up front Ghiraldini drops to the bench where he joins Tiziano Pasquali and a first time in the match day squad for Riccardo Brugnara makes an all Italian replacement front row. Brugnara and Pasquali impressed this Monday in the A league and deserve their place.
Tom Croft's much antcipated return is put off another week despite being named in the starting line up last time out. In the back row Gibson continues at 6 with Crane dropping to the bench.
Exeter are coming off a 6 day turnaround but unsurprisingly keep the same XV that ravaged newly promoted London Welsh in Oxford. That means an early encounter for Thomas Waldrom with his old mates. Waldrom played 112 times for the Tigers and has won Premiership Player of the Season in the past. He made an immediate impact for the Devonians touching down twice last weekend.
In the centres Exeter give youth its head by playing two 21 year olds; Henry Slade made his name at fly half in England U-20's inaugural Junior World Cup win but now features at 13, Sam Hill was 12 in that final and stays at inside centre now. The young pair will be a target for Manu Tuilagi, just 23 himself.
Exeter's captain so far this season has been local hooker Jack Yeandle. Yeandle is originally a product of Crediton but cut his teeth with Doncaster before returning to Devon with his home town team. He is joined in the front row by fellow battle hardened ex-Championship players Carl Rimmer, originally from Coventry but signed from Cornish Pirates, and Tomas Francis, 22, who joined this summer from London Scottish.
One change to the match day 23 sees Damian Welch come into the bench in place of Don Armand.
Tigers have played Exeter 9 times since their promotion in 2010 winning 6 and losing 3. The league campaign has seen the same side win both fixtures in the season each time; Exeter won both games in 2011/12 with Tigers completing the double in the other 3 season.
Saturday's referee is Irish Londoner J.P. Doyle. Doyle has experience of this fixture after taking charge of the Tigers win in January 2011; Doyle has a reputation of letting the game flow but when he awards penalties he is not shy at waving cards about as Tigers found to their cost in last year's semi final.
On average during last season's regular Premiership season the home side had to commit 40% more penalties than the away side before seeing a yellow card from Doyle; so Exeter's bumper 13,000 crowd at an expanded Sandy Park may well prove the decisive factor in what will be a tight game.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Robert Barbieri
Replacements
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Riccardo Brugnara
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Jordan Crane
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith
Exeter:
15 Chrysander Botha
14 Ian Whitten
13 Henry Slade
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Carl Rimmer
2 Jack Yeandle (c)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Ryan Caldwell
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements:
16 Elvis Taione
17 Ben Moon
18 Moray Low
19 Damian Welch
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Will Chudley
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Jack Arnott
Referee: JP Doyle
Touch Judges: Paul Burton, Robin Goodliffe
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Niall Morris switches to the wing to make room for Tait, from last week's 23 Scully and Seremaia Bai miss out entirely with Matt Smith retaining his place on the bench. Up front Ghiraldini drops to the bench where he joins Tiziano Pasquali and a first time in the match day squad for Riccardo Brugnara makes an all Italian replacement front row. Brugnara and Pasquali impressed this Monday in the A league and deserve their place.
Tom Croft's much antcipated return is put off another week despite being named in the starting line up last time out. In the back row Gibson continues at 6 with Crane dropping to the bench.
Exeter are coming off a 6 day turnaround but unsurprisingly keep the same XV that ravaged newly promoted London Welsh in Oxford. That means an early encounter for Thomas Waldrom with his old mates. Waldrom played 112 times for the Tigers and has won Premiership Player of the Season in the past. He made an immediate impact for the Devonians touching down twice last weekend.
In the centres Exeter give youth its head by playing two 21 year olds; Henry Slade made his name at fly half in England U-20's inaugural Junior World Cup win but now features at 13, Sam Hill was 12 in that final and stays at inside centre now. The young pair will be a target for Manu Tuilagi, just 23 himself.
Exeter's captain so far this season has been local hooker Jack Yeandle. Yeandle is originally a product of Crediton but cut his teeth with Doncaster before returning to Devon with his home town team. He is joined in the front row by fellow battle hardened ex-Championship players Carl Rimmer, originally from Coventry but signed from Cornish Pirates, and Tomas Francis, 22, who joined this summer from London Scottish.
One change to the match day 23 sees Damian Welch come into the bench in place of Don Armand.
Tigers have played Exeter 9 times since their promotion in 2010 winning 6 and losing 3. The league campaign has seen the same side win both fixtures in the season each time; Exeter won both games in 2011/12 with Tigers completing the double in the other 3 season.
Saturday's referee is Irish Londoner J.P. Doyle. Doyle has experience of this fixture after taking charge of the Tigers win in January 2011; Doyle has a reputation of letting the game flow but when he awards penalties he is not shy at waving cards about as Tigers found to their cost in last year's semi final.
On average during last season's regular Premiership season the home side had to commit 40% more penalties than the away side before seeing a yellow card from Doyle; so Exeter's bumper 13,000 crowd at an expanded Sandy Park may well prove the decisive factor in what will be a tight game.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Robert Barbieri
Replacements
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Riccardo Brugnara
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Jordan Crane
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith
Exeter:
15 Chrysander Botha
14 Ian Whitten
13 Henry Slade
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Carl Rimmer
2 Jack Yeandle (c)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Ryan Caldwell
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements:
16 Elvis Taione
17 Ben Moon
18 Moray Low
19 Damian Welch
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Will Chudley
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Jack Arnott
Referee: JP Doyle
Touch Judges: Paul Burton, Robin Goodliffe
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Friday, 9 May 2014
10 Changes as Tigers freshen up for Play Off Challenge
A capacity 24,000 crowd is set to welcome Leicester Tigers home for the final time this season. Probably. A home semi final is so unlikely that Northampton have already started selling ticket for a semi final at Franklin's Gardens, what could possibly go wrong with that? The Saints need 1 point from their fixture with Wasps to reach 74 points, the maximum Tigers can achieve. Should the team be tied they will also be tied on 15 wins so it will go to the second tie breaker of points difference which Saints currently lead by 85 points.
So really a Wasps win by 8 points and holding Saints to 3 tries or fewer is the only result that gives us a chance of returning home this season. However Wasps have rested several key players for their Euro play off over the next two weeks. Stranger things have happened but I won't be holding my breath.
Tigers have not won against Saracens in 2 years and won only 2 of the last 10 encounters between the sides. The last win was the 2012 Premiership semi final when George Ford inspired Tigers to a famous victory.
Tigers make 10 changes to last week's bonus point winning side. Front line players are protected from injury and fringe ones given the chance to stake their claim for play off action. Toby Flood, Boris Stankovich and Thomas Waldrom all make their final regular season start for the club before departing in the summer.
In the back line Anthony Allen misses out with a knee injury sustained last week and Goneva takes a well earned break. With David Strettle also rested for Saracens the Fijian seems sure to be the first Tiger to end the season as top try scorer since Alesana Tuilagi in 2011.
Tigers name three full backs as Mat Tait, Niall Morris and Blaine Scully all start. US Eagle Scully earns his player's tie as he makes his 20th appearance for the First XV. Manu Tuilagi continues his return from injury in the centre and is joined in the centres by Toby Flood.
At scrum half Ben Youngs is rested meaning David Mele makes his first start since January. He is joined by Owen Williams renewing their partnership last seen in November during the Worcester away game in the LV Cup.
Up front Tigers rest the entire front row. Boris Stankovich completes an ever present season in the match day squad, alongside him is young prop Fraser Balmain who has only been outside the match day squad once. At hooker Neil Briggs is again preferred to Rob Hawkins who benches. Hawkins is due to join Newcastle this summer so will also make his final Welford Road appearance in all probability.
The back five of the scrum is an all international affair. Louis Deacon joins Geoff Parling at lock. In the back row Tongan flanker Steve Mafi makes a long awaited return. Mafi will draw inspiration from the way Goneva forced his way into the Play Off team last season despite only coming back into the starting line up in the final game. This will only be Mafi's 3rd start of a heavily disrupted season.
He is joined by Thomas Waldrom at number 8 and Argentinean international Pablo Matera. Matera is a terrific talent but his propensity to give away penalties can be a big weakness.
On the bench and also gunning for a late involvement in the season is Tom Croft. Croft injured his ACL setting up the 4th try in the season's opener at home to Worcester. Long written off for the season by the coaches Croft has shown great grit and determination to come back ahead of schedule.
One for the future is Tiziano Pasquali. The Italian teenage tighthead has spent time on loan for third tier side Doncaster this season and has featured three times from the bench in the LV Cup.
Last week Saracens broke our long held record for most points in a Premiership season, the win against Worcester put them to 85 points. Saracens have also broken our record for most wins in a 22 game season and should they win this game break our record for fewest losses.
So fair to say they've had a good year.
But with the play offs and an Heineken Cup final looming Saracens have chosen to rest a whole host of players. Yet their squad is so strong that they can still call on 6 internationals and 9 different nationalities. Ben Ransom is a dangerous broken field runner from full back having impressed on the England 7s scene, he is joined by Michael Tagicakibau, brother of London Irish's Sailosi, and kiwi Jack Wilson.
Former Nottingham centre Tim Streather is joined by Scotland's Duncan Taylor in the centres whilst Ben Spencer and Charlie Hodgson are the half backs. Hodgson is a particularly strong player to guide a young backline around the field.
In the pack Rhys Gill and Petrus Du Plessis prop either side of Jamie George. American Hayden Smith, fresh from a stint in the NFL with the New York Jets, plays lock with Eoin Sheriff. In the back row new Germany cap Justin Melck joins debutant Maro Itoje and Bedford bound Nick Fenton-Wells in the back row.
Saturday's referee is Greg Garner from Coventry. This will be Garner's first game at Welford Road since last year's Premiership semi final against Harlequins. His previous experience of Tigers v Saracens is the Londoner's 50 point win here during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Toby Flood
11 Blaine Scully
10 Owen Williams
9 David Mele
1 Boris Stankovich
2 Neil Briggs
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Pablo Matera
8 Thomas Waldrom Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Tom Croft
21 Sam Harrison
22 Dan Bowden
23 Adam Thompstone
Saracens:
15 Ben Ransom
14 Michael Tagicakibau
13 Tim Streather
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Jack Wilson
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Ben Spencer
1 Rhys Gill
2 Jamie George (c)
3 Petrus Du Plessis
4 Eoin Sheriff
5 Hayden Smith
6 Maro Itoje
7 Justin Melck
8 Nick Fenton-Wells. Replacements:
16 Scott Spurling
17 Richard Barrington
18 James Johnston
19 Tom Jubb
20 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
21 Neil de Kock
22 Nils Mordt
23 Nick Tompkins
So really a Wasps win by 8 points and holding Saints to 3 tries or fewer is the only result that gives us a chance of returning home this season. However Wasps have rested several key players for their Euro play off over the next two weeks. Stranger things have happened but I won't be holding my breath.
Tigers have not won against Saracens in 2 years and won only 2 of the last 10 encounters between the sides. The last win was the 2012 Premiership semi final when George Ford inspired Tigers to a famous victory.
Tigers make 10 changes to last week's bonus point winning side. Front line players are protected from injury and fringe ones given the chance to stake their claim for play off action. Toby Flood, Boris Stankovich and Thomas Waldrom all make their final regular season start for the club before departing in the summer.
In the back line Anthony Allen misses out with a knee injury sustained last week and Goneva takes a well earned break. With David Strettle also rested for Saracens the Fijian seems sure to be the first Tiger to end the season as top try scorer since Alesana Tuilagi in 2011.
Tigers name three full backs as Mat Tait, Niall Morris and Blaine Scully all start. US Eagle Scully earns his player's tie as he makes his 20th appearance for the First XV. Manu Tuilagi continues his return from injury in the centre and is joined in the centres by Toby Flood.
At scrum half Ben Youngs is rested meaning David Mele makes his first start since January. He is joined by Owen Williams renewing their partnership last seen in November during the Worcester away game in the LV Cup.
Up front Tigers rest the entire front row. Boris Stankovich completes an ever present season in the match day squad, alongside him is young prop Fraser Balmain who has only been outside the match day squad once. At hooker Neil Briggs is again preferred to Rob Hawkins who benches. Hawkins is due to join Newcastle this summer so will also make his final Welford Road appearance in all probability.
The back five of the scrum is an all international affair. Louis Deacon joins Geoff Parling at lock. In the back row Tongan flanker Steve Mafi makes a long awaited return. Mafi will draw inspiration from the way Goneva forced his way into the Play Off team last season despite only coming back into the starting line up in the final game. This will only be Mafi's 3rd start of a heavily disrupted season.
He is joined by Thomas Waldrom at number 8 and Argentinean international Pablo Matera. Matera is a terrific talent but his propensity to give away penalties can be a big weakness.
On the bench and also gunning for a late involvement in the season is Tom Croft. Croft injured his ACL setting up the 4th try in the season's opener at home to Worcester. Long written off for the season by the coaches Croft has shown great grit and determination to come back ahead of schedule.
One for the future is Tiziano Pasquali. The Italian teenage tighthead has spent time on loan for third tier side Doncaster this season and has featured three times from the bench in the LV Cup.
Last week Saracens broke our long held record for most points in a Premiership season, the win against Worcester put them to 85 points. Saracens have also broken our record for most wins in a 22 game season and should they win this game break our record for fewest losses.
So fair to say they've had a good year.
But with the play offs and an Heineken Cup final looming Saracens have chosen to rest a whole host of players. Yet their squad is so strong that they can still call on 6 internationals and 9 different nationalities. Ben Ransom is a dangerous broken field runner from full back having impressed on the England 7s scene, he is joined by Michael Tagicakibau, brother of London Irish's Sailosi, and kiwi Jack Wilson.
Former Nottingham centre Tim Streather is joined by Scotland's Duncan Taylor in the centres whilst Ben Spencer and Charlie Hodgson are the half backs. Hodgson is a particularly strong player to guide a young backline around the field.
In the pack Rhys Gill and Petrus Du Plessis prop either side of Jamie George. American Hayden Smith, fresh from a stint in the NFL with the New York Jets, plays lock with Eoin Sheriff. In the back row new Germany cap Justin Melck joins debutant Maro Itoje and Bedford bound Nick Fenton-Wells in the back row.
Saturday's referee is Greg Garner from Coventry. This will be Garner's first game at Welford Road since last year's Premiership semi final against Harlequins. His previous experience of Tigers v Saracens is the Londoner's 50 point win here during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Toby Flood
11 Blaine Scully
10 Owen Williams
9 David Mele
1 Boris Stankovich
2 Neil Briggs
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Pablo Matera
8 Thomas Waldrom Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Tom Croft
21 Sam Harrison
22 Dan Bowden
23 Adam Thompstone
Saracens:
15 Ben Ransom
14 Michael Tagicakibau
13 Tim Streather
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Jack Wilson
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Ben Spencer
1 Rhys Gill
2 Jamie George (c)
3 Petrus Du Plessis
4 Eoin Sheriff
5 Hayden Smith
6 Maro Itoje
7 Justin Melck
8 Nick Fenton-Wells. Replacements:
16 Scott Spurling
17 Richard Barrington
18 James Johnston
19 Tom Jubb
20 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
21 Neil de Kock
22 Nils Mordt
23 Nick Tompkins
Friday, 18 April 2014
Awesome Foursome Line Up For Quins Test
Champions Leicester Tigers travel to Harlequins knowing that a win will secure themselves a place in the play offs for the 10th straight year. A win will also put Tigers above Northampton and into position for a home semi final, for 48 hours at least.
Despite recording a maximum 5 points in the win against Wasps Richard Cockerill makes 5 changes to his starting XV. The entire front row swaps over as Marcos Ayerza and Logo Mulipola start at prop with Stankovich and Balmain going onto the bench. Neil Briggs makes his first start in 3 months as he is preferred to Rob Hawkins as hooker. Tom Youngs is rested in line with EPS requirements.
In the backs former captain Toby Flood is reunited with Ben Youngs, Anthony Allen and Manu Tuilagi. The awesome foursome have not played together in almost a year, the last time the quartet all started was against Northampton in last year's victorious play off final against Northampton. Domestically they have lost only 1 of their 15 games together.
Owen Williams is unlucky to miss out but Cockerill has commented that after 6 straight starts he feels the young player needs to rest and mentally recuperate from some tough atmospheres.
Harlequins have become a bogey side for Tigers. Quins failed to beat Tigers in 14 straight games from 2003 to 2010; but in the last 6 games the Londoners have won 5. Tigers sole win was last year's Play Off Semi Final at Welford Road.
The league meeting earlier this season was scarred with controversy; Julian Salvi received his only ever yellow card for the club on Tigers 2nd penalty of the match and Quins scored two tries, including one ruled fair on the controversial "momentum" interpretation of a forward pass, during those 10 minutes. The referee that day was Tim Wigglesworth and fresh from his contentious refereeing of the fierce Gloucester-Bath derby the RFU have once again turned a deaf ear to controversy.
Harlequins tactics of deliberately holding defenders down off the ball was highlighted by BT Sport this week, hopefully Wigglesworth was watching as without a keen eyed referee teams are helpless against the cynicism of the Harlequins machine.
Harlequins name an unchanged side from the one which secured their own bonus point win away to Sale. Full Back Mike Brown has been gaining rave reviews for his England performances whilst Nick Evans looked back to his best against the Sharks.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater (c)
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Geoff Parling
20 Pablo Matera
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Niall Morris
Harlequins
15 Mike Brown
14 Ollie Lindsay-Hague
13 Tim Molenaar
12 Jordan Turner-Hall
11 Sam Smith
10 Nick Evans
9 Danny Care
1 Joe Marler
2 Dave Ward
3 Kyle Sinckler
4 Charlie Matthews
5 George Robson
6 Luke Wallace
7 Chris Robshaw (C)
8 Nick Easter
Replacements
16 Rob Buchanan
17 Mark Lambert
18 Paul Doran Jones
19 Tom Guest
20 Maurie Fa'asavalu
21 Karl Dickson
22 Ben Botica
23 Ross Chisholm
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Touch Judges: Andy Watson & Roy Maybank TMO: Sean Davey
Despite recording a maximum 5 points in the win against Wasps Richard Cockerill makes 5 changes to his starting XV. The entire front row swaps over as Marcos Ayerza and Logo Mulipola start at prop with Stankovich and Balmain going onto the bench. Neil Briggs makes his first start in 3 months as he is preferred to Rob Hawkins as hooker. Tom Youngs is rested in line with EPS requirements.
In the backs former captain Toby Flood is reunited with Ben Youngs, Anthony Allen and Manu Tuilagi. The awesome foursome have not played together in almost a year, the last time the quartet all started was against Northampton in last year's victorious play off final against Northampton. Domestically they have lost only 1 of their 15 games together.
Owen Williams is unlucky to miss out but Cockerill has commented that after 6 straight starts he feels the young player needs to rest and mentally recuperate from some tough atmospheres.
Harlequins have become a bogey side for Tigers. Quins failed to beat Tigers in 14 straight games from 2003 to 2010; but in the last 6 games the Londoners have won 5. Tigers sole win was last year's Play Off Semi Final at Welford Road.
The league meeting earlier this season was scarred with controversy; Julian Salvi received his only ever yellow card for the club on Tigers 2nd penalty of the match and Quins scored two tries, including one ruled fair on the controversial "momentum" interpretation of a forward pass, during those 10 minutes. The referee that day was Tim Wigglesworth and fresh from his contentious refereeing of the fierce Gloucester-Bath derby the RFU have once again turned a deaf ear to controversy.
Harlequins tactics of deliberately holding defenders down off the ball was highlighted by BT Sport this week, hopefully Wigglesworth was watching as without a keen eyed referee teams are helpless against the cynicism of the Harlequins machine.
Harlequins name an unchanged side from the one which secured their own bonus point win away to Sale. Full Back Mike Brown has been gaining rave reviews for his England performances whilst Nick Evans looked back to his best against the Sharks.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater (c)
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Geoff Parling
20 Pablo Matera
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Niall Morris
Harlequins
15 Mike Brown
14 Ollie Lindsay-Hague
13 Tim Molenaar
12 Jordan Turner-Hall
11 Sam Smith
10 Nick Evans
9 Danny Care
1 Joe Marler
2 Dave Ward
3 Kyle Sinckler
4 Charlie Matthews
5 George Robson
6 Luke Wallace
7 Chris Robshaw (C)
8 Nick Easter
Replacements
16 Rob Buchanan
17 Mark Lambert
18 Paul Doran Jones
19 Tom Guest
20 Maurie Fa'asavalu
21 Karl Dickson
22 Ben Botica
23 Ross Chisholm
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Touch Judges: Andy Watson & Roy Maybank TMO: Sean Davey
Friday, 28 March 2014
Team Named for Derby Day
It’s finally time.
Derby day is here. Tigers make
one change from the side that thrashed Exeter as Mat Tait takes over from Scott
Hamilton. Last time out Northampton
struggled to defeat away to Sale and have made 3 changes; Kahn Fotuali’i comes
in at scrum half, George Pisi starts at outside centre and Phil Dowson starts
at openside.
Tigers go into this match in terrific form winning 5 on the
bounce and scoring 13 tries in their last 3 games. Meanwhile Northampton has lost their last two
away to Exeter then Sale; before that though they were on a 13 game unbeaten
run. We all know the cliché of the form
book going out the window in derbies; but Tigers have been on a great run
against Saints going undefeated in the last 9 meetings.
Tigers’ man of the moment is Vereniki Goneva with 6 tries in his last 5 starts, how Northampton cope with Goneva will be crucial. In the 9 game unbeaten run Tigers have managed to score 25 or more points in 6 matches; the Saints meanwhile have only reached that score once and lost that game. The last two meetings at Franklin’s Gardens have ended with Bonus Point wins for the visitors.
With a cloth ear to controversy the RFU in their infinite wisdom have appointed Wayne Barnes as referee. The same Barnes who sent off Dylan Hartley in the Premiership final after he accused Barnes of being a “fucking cheat”, the same Barnes who sent off Alesana Tuilagi and Chris Ashton three years ago, the same Barnes who sin binned Manu Tuilagi and Ashton in the Premiership semi final of 2011. Given the Northampton crowd’s obsession with Barnes he will be under immense pressure to “right the wrongs” they perceive him to have done to them in the past.
Equally Cockerill will be looking for Barnes to clamp down on Northampton’s history of late tackles on our key playmakers; he is in an unenviable position of scrutiny. The RFU must make these appointments deliberately as Barnes has now refereed 5 of the last 8 meetings between the sides. Given they let people referee their own local clubs they probably don’t even think about this sort of pressure on a referee.
Both teams are missing their USA internationals as the Eagles welcome Uruguay to Atlanta in a World Cup qualifier. Last week Samu Manoa scored a breakaway try as the USA struggled to a disappointing draw in Montevideo. Any side would miss a player like Manoa but it is another absentee that is likely to be felt more strongly.
Northampton’s two game losing streak has coincided with the injury to fly half Stephen Myler. The Widnes born controller has been in magnificent form, both in open play and as a goal kicker. The Saints can be accused of a lack of depth in position as the only cover is youngster Will Hooley, originally from Cambridge.
Tigers number 8 Jordan Crane makes his hundredth league start for Leicester. Crane has been in brilliant form the last two matches as he is getting back towards his best. His strong central carrying has been key to Tigers getting onto the front foot and drawing in the defenders, giving the wide men like Goneva and Tuilagi more room to roam.
The history books and the form guide suggest Tigers should be favourites but Northampton will never be more motivated to turn over their greatest rivals than this week. With 8 wins and draw in the last 9 fixtures it is surely their time to gain the bragging rights.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Pablo Matera
21 David Mele
22 Toby Flood
23 Scott Hamilton
Northampton
15 Ben Foden
14 Jamie Elliott
13 George Pisi
12 Luther Burrell
11
George North
10 Will Hooley
9 Kahn Fotuali'i
1 Alex Waller
2 Dylan
Hartley (c)
3 Salesi Ma'afu
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Calum
Clark
7 Phil Dowson
8 Tom Wood
Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Ethan Waller
18 Tom Mercey
19 James Craig
20 GJ Van Velze
21 Lee Dickson
22 James Wilson
23 Ken Pisi
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Roger Bailiff and Gordon Goodliffe
TV: BT Sport 1HD, Saturday 3:15 KO.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Roger Bailiff and Gordon Goodliffe
TV: BT Sport 1HD, Saturday 3:15 KO.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Manu Returns
He's back. After almost 5 months out of action with a torn pectoral muscle he's back. Manu returns to make his second start of the season, ironically, against the same side he injured himself in November. Tigers also welcome Tom Youngs back into the pack and a second league start for Argentinian tyro Pablo Matera.
3 unconvincing wins on the bounce against Worcester, Gloucester and Irish have left the Tigers season on life support. Another win is the bare necessity and an improved performance surely needed to boost morale.
Mat Tait looked back to effervescent and dangerous best at the Madejski, the Durham born full back will be keen to go one further this week. His opposite number is younger brother Alex Tait. The two have never faced each other in senior action.
Joining Tait and Tuilagi in the backline are international wingers US Eagle Blaine Scully and Flying Fijian Vereniki Goneva. Goneva takes Adam Thompstone's spot on the wing to accommodate the returning Tuilagi.
The inside backs are unchanged from last week as Youngs, Williams and Bowden look to take last week's performance as a base and push on again.
Tigers have an all international front row featuring Marcos Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Logovi'i Mulipola. All three are fearsome scrummagers, dynamic carriers and aggressive tacklers. Arguably Tigers greatest area of strength, the front rows are key to providing us a platform from which the backs can play.
New captain Ed Slater leads with club stalwart Louis Deacon in the engine room. Jamie Gibson and Jordan Crane keep their places in the backrow whilst Julian Salvi makes way for Pablo Matera. Matera has impressed in his chances so far and this game is his chance to lay down a marker for the rest of the season.
Newcastle name two new names in their backline; international centre Gonzalo Tiesi was with Deano at Quins, Lee Smith tries Rugby for the second time after a short lived spell at Wasps. Smith is a three time Super League Champion with Leeds and joins after a spell with Wakefield Trinity. Scotch half backs Mike Blair and Phil Godman complete the backline with Noah Cato and Adam Powell.
In the forwards one name that leaps out is Rob Vickers. Formerly a hooker, under John Wells expert eye he has been playing this season as a loosehead prop. In his old position is ex-Gloucester and Irish front row Scott Lawson. Former Tigers prop Kieran Brookes is at tighthead. A disappointing two year spell at Tigers was scarred by a crushed foot, suffered away to Newcastle in 2011, but Brookes seems to be back close the form that saw Cockerill describe him as the best young tighthead in Europe.
Two more Scots for the lock partnership as Fraser McKenzie joins Scott Macleod. They make an enterprising back five of the scrum will Andy Saull at openside and the particularly impressive duo of Will Welch and Mark Wilson. Welch is a local boy and would surely be on the England radar were he at a top 4 club.
Sunday's referee will be Coventry's Greg Garner. Garner has refereed Leicester 10 times with 7 victories to 3 defeats. He has officiated 2 previous meetings between the sides in 2010 & 2012, both bonus point wins at Welford Road.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Dan Bowden
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Pablo Matera
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Toby Flood
23 Adam Thompstone
Newcastle:
15 Alex Tait
14 Noah Cato
13 Gonzalo Tiesi
12 Adam Powell
11 Lee Smith
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Will Welch (c)
7 Andy Saull
8 Mark Wilson
Replacements:
16 George McGuigan
17 Gary Strain
18 Oliver Tomaszczyk
19 Sean Tomes
20 Chris York
21 Warren Fury
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Danny Barnes
Referee: Greg Garner
Touch Judges: Andy Watson, Gareth Copsey
TMO: Graham Hughes
Kick Off: 2PM, Sunday 2nd March
TV: BT Sport1HD, 1PM
3 unconvincing wins on the bounce against Worcester, Gloucester and Irish have left the Tigers season on life support. Another win is the bare necessity and an improved performance surely needed to boost morale.
Mat Tait looked back to effervescent and dangerous best at the Madejski, the Durham born full back will be keen to go one further this week. His opposite number is younger brother Alex Tait. The two have never faced each other in senior action.
Joining Tait and Tuilagi in the backline are international wingers US Eagle Blaine Scully and Flying Fijian Vereniki Goneva. Goneva takes Adam Thompstone's spot on the wing to accommodate the returning Tuilagi.
The inside backs are unchanged from last week as Youngs, Williams and Bowden look to take last week's performance as a base and push on again.
Tigers have an all international front row featuring Marcos Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Logovi'i Mulipola. All three are fearsome scrummagers, dynamic carriers and aggressive tacklers. Arguably Tigers greatest area of strength, the front rows are key to providing us a platform from which the backs can play.
New captain Ed Slater leads with club stalwart Louis Deacon in the engine room. Jamie Gibson and Jordan Crane keep their places in the backrow whilst Julian Salvi makes way for Pablo Matera. Matera has impressed in his chances so far and this game is his chance to lay down a marker for the rest of the season.
Newcastle name two new names in their backline; international centre Gonzalo Tiesi was with Deano at Quins, Lee Smith tries Rugby for the second time after a short lived spell at Wasps. Smith is a three time Super League Champion with Leeds and joins after a spell with Wakefield Trinity. Scotch half backs Mike Blair and Phil Godman complete the backline with Noah Cato and Adam Powell.
In the forwards one name that leaps out is Rob Vickers. Formerly a hooker, under John Wells expert eye he has been playing this season as a loosehead prop. In his old position is ex-Gloucester and Irish front row Scott Lawson. Former Tigers prop Kieran Brookes is at tighthead. A disappointing two year spell at Tigers was scarred by a crushed foot, suffered away to Newcastle in 2011, but Brookes seems to be back close the form that saw Cockerill describe him as the best young tighthead in Europe.
Two more Scots for the lock partnership as Fraser McKenzie joins Scott Macleod. They make an enterprising back five of the scrum will Andy Saull at openside and the particularly impressive duo of Will Welch and Mark Wilson. Welch is a local boy and would surely be on the England radar were he at a top 4 club.
Sunday's referee will be Coventry's Greg Garner. Garner has refereed Leicester 10 times with 7 victories to 3 defeats. He has officiated 2 previous meetings between the sides in 2010 & 2012, both bonus point wins at Welford Road.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Dan Bowden
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Pablo Matera
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Toby Flood
23 Adam Thompstone
Newcastle:
15 Alex Tait
14 Noah Cato
13 Gonzalo Tiesi
12 Adam Powell
11 Lee Smith
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Will Welch (c)
7 Andy Saull
8 Mark Wilson
Replacements:
16 George McGuigan
17 Gary Strain
18 Oliver Tomaszczyk
19 Sean Tomes
20 Chris York
21 Warren Fury
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Danny Barnes
Referee: Greg Garner
Touch Judges: Andy Watson, Gareth Copsey
TMO: Graham Hughes
Kick Off: 2PM, Sunday 2nd March
TV: BT Sport1HD, 1PM
Friday, 21 February 2014
Flood Washed Away
Leicester have reacted to a disappointing win against Gloucester by making drastic changes. Toby Flood pays the biggest price for an off day with the boot, and an on field spat, by losing the captaincy and dropping to the bench to be replaced by Owen Williams.
The metaphorical arm band instead goes to Ed Slater. Slater is Leicester born but raised in Milton Keynes; he was picked up by Leicester's scouting system playing in Australia on a working gap year. After a trial period and a short spell at Nottingham Slater returned to Tigers during the second row injury crisis of 2010. He made his debut from the bench against Northampton on the opening day of the 2010-11 season and has gone on to make 85 appearances for the First XV.
Flood is not the only one to carry the can. Matt Smith drops to the bench to be replaced by Blaine Scully. Goneva switches from wing to centre to accommodate the Californian flyer. In the pack international duty deprives us of Tom Youngs whilst Graham Kitchener misses out after limping off last week injured. Hawkins and Deacon start in their place.
The decision to drop Flood is undoubtedly the most controversial. Since his decision to become the first man to shun the Tigers captaincy the club has won only 4 out of 9 matches; before the announcement we were on a 6 game undefeated run.
But it is still a big call, the season is not yet over and his partnership with Ben Youngs has remarkable statistics. In 45 Premiership games the paid have only ever lost 4 times. They have only tasted defeat once since the 2011 Premiership Final; a single point loss away to Bath, where we had a try incorrectly ruled out that would have won the game. These guys know each other and know how to win. Throwing away that partnership is a big risk.
London Irish name 5 former Tigers in their 23; George Skivington captains against his old side and Ian Humphreys wears 10. Former Academy players Alex Lewington, Matt Parr and Jimmy Stevens are also involved.
Tigers will beware Australian full back James O'Conner. The sprightly full back is a class act and a sad reminder of what the pre-dumbed down salary capped Premiership looked like. Tigers will have to guard him closely as he is a true world class talent. Eammon Sheridan has been linked with a move to Munster and the gargantuan centre nullified Tigers at Welford Road earlier in the year.
The strength of their wings is best emphasied by Topsy Ojo making do with a place on the bench. Ojo has been one of the best wingers in the league for nigh on a decade and deserved more than his 2 England caps. Marland Yarde returns from a hip injury, ironically suffered against the Tigers, on the bench.
Sunday's referee is London based Irishman J.P. Doyle.
Leicester
15 Mathew Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater (c)
5 Louis Deacon
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Steve Mafi
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Matt Smith
23 Toby Flood
London Irish:
15 James O'Connor
14 Alex Lewington
13 Eamonn Sheridan
12 Shane Geraghty
11 Andrew Fenby
10 Ian Humphreys
9 Darren Allinson
1 Matt Parr
2 David Paice
3 Jamie Hagan
4. George Skivington (c)
5 Nic Rouse
6 Kieran Low
7 Blair Cowan
8 Ofisa Treviranus Replacements:
16 Jimmy Stevens
17 John Yapp
18 Leo Halavatau
19 Jebb Sinclair
20 Gerard Ellis
21 Topsy Ojo
22 Marland Yarde
23 Sean Kennedy
The metaphorical arm band instead goes to Ed Slater. Slater is Leicester born but raised in Milton Keynes; he was picked up by Leicester's scouting system playing in Australia on a working gap year. After a trial period and a short spell at Nottingham Slater returned to Tigers during the second row injury crisis of 2010. He made his debut from the bench against Northampton on the opening day of the 2010-11 season and has gone on to make 85 appearances for the First XV.
Flood is not the only one to carry the can. Matt Smith drops to the bench to be replaced by Blaine Scully. Goneva switches from wing to centre to accommodate the Californian flyer. In the pack international duty deprives us of Tom Youngs whilst Graham Kitchener misses out after limping off last week injured. Hawkins and Deacon start in their place.
The decision to drop Flood is undoubtedly the most controversial. Since his decision to become the first man to shun the Tigers captaincy the club has won only 4 out of 9 matches; before the announcement we were on a 6 game undefeated run.
But it is still a big call, the season is not yet over and his partnership with Ben Youngs has remarkable statistics. In 45 Premiership games the paid have only ever lost 4 times. They have only tasted defeat once since the 2011 Premiership Final; a single point loss away to Bath, where we had a try incorrectly ruled out that would have won the game. These guys know each other and know how to win. Throwing away that partnership is a big risk.
London Irish name 5 former Tigers in their 23; George Skivington captains against his old side and Ian Humphreys wears 10. Former Academy players Alex Lewington, Matt Parr and Jimmy Stevens are also involved.
Tigers will beware Australian full back James O'Conner. The sprightly full back is a class act and a sad reminder of what the pre-dumbed down salary capped Premiership looked like. Tigers will have to guard him closely as he is a true world class talent. Eammon Sheridan has been linked with a move to Munster and the gargantuan centre nullified Tigers at Welford Road earlier in the year.
The strength of their wings is best emphasied by Topsy Ojo making do with a place on the bench. Ojo has been one of the best wingers in the league for nigh on a decade and deserved more than his 2 England caps. Marland Yarde returns from a hip injury, ironically suffered against the Tigers, on the bench.
Sunday's referee is London based Irishman J.P. Doyle.
Leicester
15 Mathew Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater (c)
5 Louis Deacon
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Steve Mafi
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Matt Smith
23 Toby Flood
London Irish:
15 James O'Connor
14 Alex Lewington
13 Eamonn Sheridan
12 Shane Geraghty
11 Andrew Fenby
10 Ian Humphreys
9 Darren Allinson
1 Matt Parr
2 David Paice
3 Jamie Hagan
4. George Skivington (c)
5 Nic Rouse
6 Kieran Low
7 Blair Cowan
8 Ofisa Treviranus Replacements:
16 Jimmy Stevens
17 John Yapp
18 Leo Halavatau
19 Jebb Sinclair
20 Gerard Ellis
21 Topsy Ojo
22 Marland Yarde
23 Sean Kennedy
Friday, 14 February 2014
Tigers name team for Cherry 'n' White test
Tigers welcome old adversaries Gloucester to Welford Road this Sunday as both sides look to put a disappointing start to the season behind them. Gloucester sit in 9th place and need to win almost all of their remaining games if they are to feature in any European competition next season. Tigers sit in 5th place and need to seriously up their game if they want to retain the Premiership title they won so brilliantly back in May.
14 points behind Saracens with 9 to play a home semi final seems a long way off, even winning all our remaining games may not be enough.
Last week Tigers snuck the smallest of wins away to Worcester and Richard Cockerill makes 4 changes to that side. England benchman Tom Youngs returns at hooker; Graham Kitchener has recovered from an ankle knock against Ulster to feature at lock; Jordan Crane swaps with Thomas Waldrom and Adam Thompstone takes Blaine Scully's place on the wing.
Youngs and Kitchener's returns are no brainers whilst Jordan Crane and Thomas Waldrom have rotated heavily this year. But Thompstone's return I find surprising, or rather that Scully makes way. Scully had another top game against Worcester providing the assist for Goneva's 2nd try but he misses out whilst Matt Smith, who failed to make a single pass all match, is retained.
Smith is an admirable man, a good defender and hard worker but his offensive capabilities pails in comparison to Goneva, who is a dynamic ball carrier with the ability to unlock any defence. Goneva is an experienced centre having spent most of his career pre-Tigers there and is a sound defender. At the end of the day should an heir to Woodward and Dodge really be able to get away with a whole match without passing?
The other surprise is that no place has been found for Steve Mafi in the matchday 23. The fan favourite has an undeniable quality and steps up well to the big occasion, surely he should be allowed to play himself into form in the same way that paid such dividends for Mat Tait last season?
Tigers posses a powerful tight five which is practically at full strength; Gloucester's in contrast has not fared well this year and will need to step up to avoid a repeat of last season's game when Tigers demolished a Gloucester scrum, Shaun Knight was sin binned in the first half after refusing to scrummage legally.
Gloucester have stiffened their pack since then by singing Tongan tighthead Sila Puafisi and the emergence of young lock Elliot Stooke, very much of the Jim Hamilton mould in the second row.
The back row is strong with ex-Nottingham man Sione Kalamafone particularly impressive. Another man with midlands pedigree is Rob Cook, he developed his unique kicking style during a stint at Nuneaton, who joins Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall and Martyn Thomas in an exciting back line.
Sunday's referee will be Dean Richards. Not that one. This one is originally from Henley and it will be his 8th time refereeing the Tigers; his 7 games so far has yielded 6 wins since a debut defeat away to Bristol in 2005.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Louis Deacon
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Blaine Scully
Gloucester:
15 Rob Cook
14 Charlie Sharples
13 Henry Trinder
12 Mike Tindall (c)
11 Martyn Thomas
10 Ryan Mills
9 Dan Robson
1 Nick Wood
2 Darren Dawidiuk
3 Sila Puafisi
4 Elliott Stooke
5 Will James
6 Sione Kalamafoni
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Ben Morgan
Replacements:
16 Huia Edmonds
17 Yann Thomas
18 Rupert Harden
19 James Hudson
20 Matt Cox
21 Jimmy Cowan
22 Freddie Burns
23 Shane Monahan
14 points behind Saracens with 9 to play a home semi final seems a long way off, even winning all our remaining games may not be enough.
Last week Tigers snuck the smallest of wins away to Worcester and Richard Cockerill makes 4 changes to that side. England benchman Tom Youngs returns at hooker; Graham Kitchener has recovered from an ankle knock against Ulster to feature at lock; Jordan Crane swaps with Thomas Waldrom and Adam Thompstone takes Blaine Scully's place on the wing.
Youngs and Kitchener's returns are no brainers whilst Jordan Crane and Thomas Waldrom have rotated heavily this year. But Thompstone's return I find surprising, or rather that Scully makes way. Scully had another top game against Worcester providing the assist for Goneva's 2nd try but he misses out whilst Matt Smith, who failed to make a single pass all match, is retained.
Smith is an admirable man, a good defender and hard worker but his offensive capabilities pails in comparison to Goneva, who is a dynamic ball carrier with the ability to unlock any defence. Goneva is an experienced centre having spent most of his career pre-Tigers there and is a sound defender. At the end of the day should an heir to Woodward and Dodge really be able to get away with a whole match without passing?
The other surprise is that no place has been found for Steve Mafi in the matchday 23. The fan favourite has an undeniable quality and steps up well to the big occasion, surely he should be allowed to play himself into form in the same way that paid such dividends for Mat Tait last season?
Tigers posses a powerful tight five which is practically at full strength; Gloucester's in contrast has not fared well this year and will need to step up to avoid a repeat of last season's game when Tigers demolished a Gloucester scrum, Shaun Knight was sin binned in the first half after refusing to scrummage legally.
Gloucester have stiffened their pack since then by singing Tongan tighthead Sila Puafisi and the emergence of young lock Elliot Stooke, very much of the Jim Hamilton mould in the second row.
The back row is strong with ex-Nottingham man Sione Kalamafone particularly impressive. Another man with midlands pedigree is Rob Cook, he developed his unique kicking style during a stint at Nuneaton, who joins Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall and Martyn Thomas in an exciting back line.
Sunday's referee will be Dean Richards. Not that one. This one is originally from Henley and it will be his 8th time refereeing the Tigers; his 7 games so far has yielded 6 wins since a debut defeat away to Bristol in 2005.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Louis Deacon
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Blaine Scully
Gloucester:
15 Rob Cook
14 Charlie Sharples
13 Henry Trinder
12 Mike Tindall (c)
11 Martyn Thomas
10 Ryan Mills
9 Dan Robson
1 Nick Wood
2 Darren Dawidiuk
3 Sila Puafisi
4 Elliott Stooke
5 Will James
6 Sione Kalamafoni
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Ben Morgan
Replacements:
16 Huia Edmonds
17 Yann Thomas
18 Rupert Harden
19 James Hudson
20 Matt Cox
21 Jimmy Cowan
22 Freddie Burns
23 Shane Monahan
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Prem Action Returns: Tigers Team for Worcester Named
Leicester return to Premiership action this Friday as we travel to face relegation threatened Worcester at Sixways.
Worcester are winless in the Premiership this season as Dean Ryan's appointment has failed to live up to pre-season expectations. Tigers go into this game on the back of a poor run of form that has seen us win only 2 out of the last 7 games, our worst run of form since the 2011 World Cup when were missing 11 players and only managed a single win in 8 games.
Richard Cockerill used the LV break to rotate and rest his squad so makes 11 changes to his starting XV. Blaine Scully is rewarded for his try in last week's mauling by Bath with a spot on the wing whilst Matt Smith continues at centre and Rob Hawkins and Thomas Waldrom retain their places in the pack
Headline returnee is Logovi'i Mulipola after almost 3 months out after a 13cm tear in his calf. Mulipola suffered the injury on international duty with Samoa much to Cockerill's chagrin. He is joined by Hawkins and Argentinian international Marcos Ayerza in the front row.
England have deemed Ed Slater and Ben Youngs surplus to their requirements despite the disastrous start and finish to the France game last week. Youngs forms a mid-field triumvirate with regular partner Toby Flood and inside centre Anthony Allen. Slater partners Louis Deacon in the second row.
Other star players recalled are Mat Tait and Vereniki Goneva in the backs with Julian Salvi at openside. Jamie Gibson retains his place at blindside ahead of Steve Mafi. Mafi will be looking to make a characteristic big impact from the bench to regain his starting place.
The bench has a youthful feel as Harry Thacker, in line to make his Premiership debut, is joined by Fraser Balmain, Pablo Matera and Owen Williams. Experience is provided by Stankovich and Scott Hamilton.
Worcester's side is strengthened by the return to fitness of Pumas hooker Agustin Creevy. The pack features a physical back row as South African lock Mike Williams wears 6 alongside Bristolian Sam Betty at openside. Betty was yellow carded for a high tackle in the reverse fixture this September. They are joined by 67 cap Wales international Jonathan Thomas.
The bench provides further experienced depth as Leonardo Senatore provides 20 Argentina caps in the back row.
The backline provides a Pacific Island flavour as Samoan David Lemi is joined by Fijians Josh Drauniniu and Ravai Fatiaki, with Josh Matavesi covering from the bench.
Friday's referee will be New Zealand's Andrew Small. Small has been refereeing in England for many years; it is 8 years since his first encounter with the Tigers, a 10 point loss to the Barbarians in March 2006. That was the last First XV match played against the Barbarians as well as Pat Howard's final start for the club. Since then Small has taken charge of the club on 28 occasions with Tigers winning 71.43% of those games (or 20/28 in boring whole number stats). His last appointment was the disappointing defeat away to Wasps in October.
With the recent weather in the west country I shudder to think what state the pitch will be in, with a storm predicted to come near the end of the match if Tigers can't get out into a lead Worcester's forward power and psyched up home crowd may be enough to win an arm wrestle. Tigers slim chances of a home semi final are resting on wins in all the upcoming games away to the bottom three.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 Harry Thacker
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Steve Mafi
20 Pablo Matera
21 David Mélé
22 Owen Williams
23 Scott Hamilton
Worcester
15 Chris Pennell
14 Josh Drauniniu
13 Alex Grove
12 Ravai Fatiaki
11 David Lemi
10 Paul Warwick
9 Jonny Arr
1 Ofa Fainga'anuku
2 Agustin Creevy
3 John Andress
4 James Percival
5 Mariano Galarza
6 Mike Williams
7 Sam Betty
8 Jonathan Thomas (c) Replacements
16 Ed Shervington
17 George Porter
18 Rob O'Donnell
19 Dean Schofield
20 Leonardo Senatore
21 Paul Hodgson
22 Ignacio Mieres
23 Josh Matavesi
Worcester are winless in the Premiership this season as Dean Ryan's appointment has failed to live up to pre-season expectations. Tigers go into this game on the back of a poor run of form that has seen us win only 2 out of the last 7 games, our worst run of form since the 2011 World Cup when were missing 11 players and only managed a single win in 8 games.
Richard Cockerill used the LV break to rotate and rest his squad so makes 11 changes to his starting XV. Blaine Scully is rewarded for his try in last week's mauling by Bath with a spot on the wing whilst Matt Smith continues at centre and Rob Hawkins and Thomas Waldrom retain their places in the pack
Headline returnee is Logovi'i Mulipola after almost 3 months out after a 13cm tear in his calf. Mulipola suffered the injury on international duty with Samoa much to Cockerill's chagrin. He is joined by Hawkins and Argentinian international Marcos Ayerza in the front row.
England have deemed Ed Slater and Ben Youngs surplus to their requirements despite the disastrous start and finish to the France game last week. Youngs forms a mid-field triumvirate with regular partner Toby Flood and inside centre Anthony Allen. Slater partners Louis Deacon in the second row.
Other star players recalled are Mat Tait and Vereniki Goneva in the backs with Julian Salvi at openside. Jamie Gibson retains his place at blindside ahead of Steve Mafi. Mafi will be looking to make a characteristic big impact from the bench to regain his starting place.
The bench has a youthful feel as Harry Thacker, in line to make his Premiership debut, is joined by Fraser Balmain, Pablo Matera and Owen Williams. Experience is provided by Stankovich and Scott Hamilton.
Worcester's side is strengthened by the return to fitness of Pumas hooker Agustin Creevy. The pack features a physical back row as South African lock Mike Williams wears 6 alongside Bristolian Sam Betty at openside. Betty was yellow carded for a high tackle in the reverse fixture this September. They are joined by 67 cap Wales international Jonathan Thomas.
The bench provides further experienced depth as Leonardo Senatore provides 20 Argentina caps in the back row.
The backline provides a Pacific Island flavour as Samoan David Lemi is joined by Fijians Josh Drauniniu and Ravai Fatiaki, with Josh Matavesi covering from the bench.
Friday's referee will be New Zealand's Andrew Small. Small has been refereeing in England for many years; it is 8 years since his first encounter with the Tigers, a 10 point loss to the Barbarians in March 2006. That was the last First XV match played against the Barbarians as well as Pat Howard's final start for the club. Since then Small has taken charge of the club on 28 occasions with Tigers winning 71.43% of those games (or 20/28 in boring whole number stats). His last appointment was the disappointing defeat away to Wasps in October.
With the recent weather in the west country I shudder to think what state the pitch will be in, with a storm predicted to come near the end of the match if Tigers can't get out into a lead Worcester's forward power and psyched up home crowd may be enough to win an arm wrestle. Tigers slim chances of a home semi final are resting on wins in all the upcoming games away to the bottom three.
Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 Harry Thacker
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Steve Mafi
20 Pablo Matera
21 David Mélé
22 Owen Williams
23 Scott Hamilton
Worcester
15 Chris Pennell
14 Josh Drauniniu
13 Alex Grove
12 Ravai Fatiaki
11 David Lemi
10 Paul Warwick
9 Jonny Arr
1 Ofa Fainga'anuku
2 Agustin Creevy
3 John Andress
4 James Percival
5 Mariano Galarza
6 Mike Williams
7 Sam Betty
8 Jonathan Thomas (c) Replacements
16 Ed Shervington
17 George Porter
18 Rob O'Donnell
19 Dean Schofield
20 Leonardo Senatore
21 Paul Hodgson
22 Ignacio Mieres
23 Josh Matavesi
Friday, 24 January 2014
Champion v Champion in Cup Battle
After the intensity and disappointment of last week's match Tigers take a step down this weekend as they travel to the Stoop to face Harlequins. Last year Harlequins won the LV Cup with Tigers taking the Premiership, the year before it was vice versa with Harlequins winning a first Premiership and Tigers taking the Cup.
Since league rugby began in 1987 Tigers have taken on Quins 28 times in competitive games at the Stoop, winning 20, losing 8 and drawing 1. We have a mirror image at home with 20 wins and 9 losses. The recent form has not been so good as Quins have 4 of the last 5 meetings. The only Tigers win? Last season's Premiership semi final.
Tigers make 14 changes from the defeat to Ulster as they seek to rest the wounded, give chances to the fringe players and judiciously blood a small amount of youth. Frenchman David Mele cements his burgeoning reputation at the club by having the honour of the captaincy.
Tom Bristow a summer signing from London Welsh makes his first start for the club as he is joined by Rob Hawkins, a first start this season, and Fraser Balmain in the front row. Harry Thacker, so impressive in the first tranche of games, misses out with an injured ankle. 19 year old Italian Tiziano Pasquali backs up tighthead with experienced duo George Chuter and Boris Stankovich cover the other two.
Steve Mafi returns to the starting line up at the relatively unfamiliar position of lock. With Joe Cain and Tom Price out with injuries he is joined by Sebastian De Chaves in the First XV and Harry Wells on the bench.
The back row sees impressive Argentinean flanker Pablo Matera make his second start for the club. Matera has struggled for fluency since his arrival being unavailable for 7 of the 13 games since his October arrival due to international commitments and registration issues in Europe. From now on he is available for every game, injuries willing, so hopefully will use the next two weeks to make an unanswerable case for inclusion in the Premiership games next month.
Thomas Waldrom, in his first appearance since announcing his summer departure to Exeter, starts at 8 with Michael Noone on the blindside. On the bench there is a potential debut for openside flanker Will Owen, an England U-18 international.
Joining captain Mele at half back is Ryan Lamb. The "mercurial" fly half has fallen down the pecking order in recent times and I am surprised to see him here in place of Owen Williams. The backs cannot be said to be blooding any youth as Scott Hamilton, Matt Smith, Adam Thompstone, Terrence Hepetema join Blaine Scully.
Scully was looking in great nick before missing November with the USA and could well force his way back into the First XV after the news that Miles Benjamin is back on the long term missing list.
Young backs Scott Steele, Owen Williams and Henry Purdy cover from the bench.
Harlequins are winless in this season's LV Cup and are out to change that after naming a very strong side. Big money summer signings Paul Sackey and Nick Kennedy both start along dual code international Maurice Fa'asalavu and international tighthead and filmographer Paul Doran-Jones. Lions winger Ugo Monye is on the bench should the fire power in the first line run short.
Saturday's referee will be Gwyn Morris from Cardiff. Morris was due to referee Tigers last LV Cup game, away to Worcester, but was replaced at the last minute with Neil Hennessy. Morris's claim to fame is that he was Sam Warburton and Gareth Bale's P.E. teacher whilst they attended school in Cardiff.
Looking at the sides I would expect Tigers to play a wide game, with good tempo. There is precious little biff in the pack so the mobile game must be to the fore. It wouldn't surprise me if it comes down to the goal kicking of Lamb and Botica.
Leicester
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Terrence Hepetema
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Ryan Lamb
9 David Mele (c)
1 Tom Bristow
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Steve Mafi
5 Sebastian De Chaves
6 Michael Noone
7 Pablo Matera
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Harry Wells
20 Will Owen
21 Scott Steele
22 Owen Williams
23 Henry Purdy
Harlequin
15. Ollie Lindsay-Hague
14. Paul Sackey
13. Harry Sloan
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Tom Williams
10. Ben Botica
9. Karl Dickson (C)
1. Mark Lambert
2. Joe Gray
3. Paul Doran Jones
4. George Merrick
5. Nick Kennedy
6. Joe Trayfoot
7. Maurie Fa'asavalu
8. Tom Guest
Replacements:
16. Nic Mayhew
17. Darryl Marfo
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. James Chisholm
21. Sam Stuart
22. Louis Grimoldby
23. Ugo Monye
Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Touch Judges: Roy Maybank (England), Nigel Carrick (England)
Since league rugby began in 1987 Tigers have taken on Quins 28 times in competitive games at the Stoop, winning 20, losing 8 and drawing 1. We have a mirror image at home with 20 wins and 9 losses. The recent form has not been so good as Quins have 4 of the last 5 meetings. The only Tigers win? Last season's Premiership semi final.
Tigers make 14 changes from the defeat to Ulster as they seek to rest the wounded, give chances to the fringe players and judiciously blood a small amount of youth. Frenchman David Mele cements his burgeoning reputation at the club by having the honour of the captaincy.
Tom Bristow a summer signing from London Welsh makes his first start for the club as he is joined by Rob Hawkins, a first start this season, and Fraser Balmain in the front row. Harry Thacker, so impressive in the first tranche of games, misses out with an injured ankle. 19 year old Italian Tiziano Pasquali backs up tighthead with experienced duo George Chuter and Boris Stankovich cover the other two.
Steve Mafi returns to the starting line up at the relatively unfamiliar position of lock. With Joe Cain and Tom Price out with injuries he is joined by Sebastian De Chaves in the First XV and Harry Wells on the bench.
The back row sees impressive Argentinean flanker Pablo Matera make his second start for the club. Matera has struggled for fluency since his arrival being unavailable for 7 of the 13 games since his October arrival due to international commitments and registration issues in Europe. From now on he is available for every game, injuries willing, so hopefully will use the next two weeks to make an unanswerable case for inclusion in the Premiership games next month.
Thomas Waldrom, in his first appearance since announcing his summer departure to Exeter, starts at 8 with Michael Noone on the blindside. On the bench there is a potential debut for openside flanker Will Owen, an England U-18 international.
Joining captain Mele at half back is Ryan Lamb. The "mercurial" fly half has fallen down the pecking order in recent times and I am surprised to see him here in place of Owen Williams. The backs cannot be said to be blooding any youth as Scott Hamilton, Matt Smith, Adam Thompstone, Terrence Hepetema join Blaine Scully.
Scully was looking in great nick before missing November with the USA and could well force his way back into the First XV after the news that Miles Benjamin is back on the long term missing list.
Young backs Scott Steele, Owen Williams and Henry Purdy cover from the bench.
Harlequins are winless in this season's LV Cup and are out to change that after naming a very strong side. Big money summer signings Paul Sackey and Nick Kennedy both start along dual code international Maurice Fa'asalavu and international tighthead and filmographer Paul Doran-Jones. Lions winger Ugo Monye is on the bench should the fire power in the first line run short.
Saturday's referee will be Gwyn Morris from Cardiff. Morris was due to referee Tigers last LV Cup game, away to Worcester, but was replaced at the last minute with Neil Hennessy. Morris's claim to fame is that he was Sam Warburton and Gareth Bale's P.E. teacher whilst they attended school in Cardiff.
Looking at the sides I would expect Tigers to play a wide game, with good tempo. There is precious little biff in the pack so the mobile game must be to the fore. It wouldn't surprise me if it comes down to the goal kicking of Lamb and Botica.
Leicester
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Terrence Hepetema
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Ryan Lamb
9 David Mele (c)
1 Tom Bristow
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Steve Mafi
5 Sebastian De Chaves
6 Michael Noone
7 Pablo Matera
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Harry Wells
20 Will Owen
21 Scott Steele
22 Owen Williams
23 Henry Purdy
Harlequin
15. Ollie Lindsay-Hague
14. Paul Sackey
13. Harry Sloan
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Tom Williams
10. Ben Botica
9. Karl Dickson (C)
1. Mark Lambert
2. Joe Gray
3. Paul Doran Jones
4. George Merrick
5. Nick Kennedy
6. Joe Trayfoot
7. Maurie Fa'asavalu
8. Tom Guest
Replacements:
16. Nic Mayhew
17. Darryl Marfo
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. James Chisholm
21. Sam Stuart
22. Louis Grimoldby
23. Ugo Monye
 |
| Quins Kit |
 |
| Tigers Kit |
Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Touch Judges: Roy Maybank (England), Nigel Carrick (England)
Friday, 10 January 2014
Mafi & Allen return as Tigers head for pivotal European Fixture
Tigers travel to Italy looking to secure a victory and set up a do or die clash with Irish giants Ulster at Welford Road next week.
Richard Cockerill is forced into two changes in his Starting XV as injury forces Tom Youngs and Ed Slater out. There has been no word on Youngs's injury but we know that Ed Slater is missing after suffering a concussion last week.
Neil Briggs starts his first Heineken up game for 4 years, his last was in January 2010 when his Sale side traveled to Cardiff. Replacing Slater in the engine room is South African lock Sebastian De Chaves.
The headline returns are amongst the replacements. Steve Mafi is back after missing 3 months on compassionate leave following complications with the birth of his child in Australia. Also returning is Anthony Allen. Allen has missed 3 months following a nasty leg injury suffered against Northampton in October. Both add a sparkle of quality and experience to the bench and are sure to feature if needed.
In the front row Marcos Ayerza makes 150th start for the club. Ayerza made his debut in the 27 all draw at home to Gloucester on 16th September 2006; in the current squad only Louis Deacon and George Chuter have played more games for the club.
Tigers know that Treviso will put up a strong challenge at home. The last two encounters in Treviso have gone down to the wire: in 2012 it required a last minute penalty try for Tigers to bag the 4 points and back in 2010 it took an Alesana Tuilagi try from the half way line with only 4 minutes to spare for Tigers to take home all 5 points.
Last season Treviso finished 7th in the RaboDirect Pro12; this season how ever their form has been worse as they have only won 3 games so far, with two of those being Connacht and Zebre at home.
In the Italian side the Tongan-Japanese Christian Loamanu switches from centre to flanker. Loamanu has previously played number 8 for the Italians in a bonus point win against Munster last season. In the back row he is joined by Robert Barbieri, a Canadian, and Paul Derbyshire, despite the name born and bred in Italy to an Italian mother.
Treviso posses a very strong front row. Tighthead Lorenzo Cittadini is an incredibly strong scrummager and is pushing Castro very hard for his Italian test jersey. Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini is an experienced campaigner, regularly linked to top English and French sides he has stayed loyal to Treviso.
The referee is Romain Poite, from Castres in France. Poite refereed the 60-16 win for Tigers against Treviso in 2008 but otherwise we have struggled with him away from home losing to Ulster twice as well as Saracens back in 2010.
Other results to look for are victories for Clermont against Harlequins; Toulon against Cardiff; Munster against Gloucester and Ospreys against Northampton. A Tigers victory combined with wins for those European giants and both Ulster and ourselves will be sure of at least a best runners up spot in the quarter finals.
Leicester Tigers
15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Toby Flood (c)
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Sebastian De Chaves
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Steve Mafi
20 Jordan Crane
21 David Mélé
22 Anthony Allen
23 Matt Smith
Benetton Treviso:
15 Brendan Williams
14 Angelo Esposito
13 Michele Campagnaro
12 Andrea Pratichetti
11 Luke McLean
10 Mat Berquist
9 Edoardo Gori
1 Michele Rizzo
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Lorenzo Cittadini
4 Antonio Pavanello (c)
5 Valerio Bernabo
6 Christian Loamanu
7 Paul Derbyshire
8 Robert Barbieri Replacements:
16 Franco Sbaraglini
17 Alberto de Marchi
18 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet
19 Marco Fuser
20 Marco Filippucci
21 Francesco Minto
22 Fabio Semenzato
23 James Ambrosini
Referee: Romain Poite
Touch Judges: Christophe Berdos & Tual Trainini
Richard Cockerill is forced into two changes in his Starting XV as injury forces Tom Youngs and Ed Slater out. There has been no word on Youngs's injury but we know that Ed Slater is missing after suffering a concussion last week.
Neil Briggs starts his first Heineken up game for 4 years, his last was in January 2010 when his Sale side traveled to Cardiff. Replacing Slater in the engine room is South African lock Sebastian De Chaves.
The headline returns are amongst the replacements. Steve Mafi is back after missing 3 months on compassionate leave following complications with the birth of his child in Australia. Also returning is Anthony Allen. Allen has missed 3 months following a nasty leg injury suffered against Northampton in October. Both add a sparkle of quality and experience to the bench and are sure to feature if needed.
In the front row Marcos Ayerza makes 150th start for the club. Ayerza made his debut in the 27 all draw at home to Gloucester on 16th September 2006; in the current squad only Louis Deacon and George Chuter have played more games for the club.
Tigers know that Treviso will put up a strong challenge at home. The last two encounters in Treviso have gone down to the wire: in 2012 it required a last minute penalty try for Tigers to bag the 4 points and back in 2010 it took an Alesana Tuilagi try from the half way line with only 4 minutes to spare for Tigers to take home all 5 points.
Last season Treviso finished 7th in the RaboDirect Pro12; this season how ever their form has been worse as they have only won 3 games so far, with two of those being Connacht and Zebre at home.
In the Italian side the Tongan-Japanese Christian Loamanu switches from centre to flanker. Loamanu has previously played number 8 for the Italians in a bonus point win against Munster last season. In the back row he is joined by Robert Barbieri, a Canadian, and Paul Derbyshire, despite the name born and bred in Italy to an Italian mother.
Treviso posses a very strong front row. Tighthead Lorenzo Cittadini is an incredibly strong scrummager and is pushing Castro very hard for his Italian test jersey. Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini is an experienced campaigner, regularly linked to top English and French sides he has stayed loyal to Treviso.
The referee is Romain Poite, from Castres in France. Poite refereed the 60-16 win for Tigers against Treviso in 2008 but otherwise we have struggled with him away from home losing to Ulster twice as well as Saracens back in 2010.
Other results to look for are victories for Clermont against Harlequins; Toulon against Cardiff; Munster against Gloucester and Ospreys against Northampton. A Tigers victory combined with wins for those European giants and both Ulster and ourselves will be sure of at least a best runners up spot in the quarter finals.
Leicester Tigers
15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Toby Flood (c)
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Neil Briggs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Sebastian De Chaves
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Steve Mafi
20 Jordan Crane
21 David Mélé
22 Anthony Allen
23 Matt Smith
Benetton Treviso:
15 Brendan Williams
14 Angelo Esposito
13 Michele Campagnaro
12 Andrea Pratichetti
11 Luke McLean
10 Mat Berquist
9 Edoardo Gori
1 Michele Rizzo
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Lorenzo Cittadini
4 Antonio Pavanello (c)
5 Valerio Bernabo
6 Christian Loamanu
7 Paul Derbyshire
8 Robert Barbieri Replacements:
16 Franco Sbaraglini
17 Alberto de Marchi
18 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet
19 Marco Fuser
20 Marco Filippucci
21 Francesco Minto
22 Fabio Semenzato
23 James Ambrosini
Referee: Romain Poite
Touch Judges: Christophe Berdos & Tual Trainini
Friday, 3 January 2014
Flood's 100 Up, but Williams retains No.10
Tigers name their strongest possible line up for the visit of long time rivals Bath to Welford Road.
Let's make no bones about it; this is a crucial game. Some people have been fooled into complacency by the stats from last week's programme that we are level pegging with last season. It is true our record of wins, losses and tries from round 9 were tied.
But after the equivalent fixtures last year we beat Worcester and went top. This year we are 13 points from second place. For some context after the atrocious start to the 2011/12 season, when we were denied so many of our player by the World Cup we made it to this stage of the season 10 points from a home semi final.
Since the play offs were introduced we have only once been this far from a home semi final after 11 rounds; that was 2003/4 when were only above Rotherham and Saracens in the table and saw Deano's departure not long after.
Northampton and Saracens have stolen a march on us in 2013. It's time for Tigers to show their teeth and make 2014 our year again.
Toby Flood makes his 100th start for the club after recovering from a leg injury suffered away to Montpellier. It is sad that such a historic start is his first since announcing he was jumping ship and giving up the Tigers captaincy to chase more cash. By my records he is the first Tigers captain to leave for money. Murphy, Corry, Johnson and Deano all retired in the role.
Interestingly Owen Williams retains the fly half jersey with Flood moving to inside centre for only the 3rd time in his century of starts. Let's hope for better results than the two losses suffered to Cardiff and Ospreys in the other games.
Miles Benjamin returns on the wing in place of Adam Thompstone, Benjamin rewarded for his fine form and Thompstone punished for his poor attempted tackle on Mark Cueto last week.
In the pack Jordan Crane and Thomas Waldrom once again rotate at number 8 but the rest is unchanged. Graham Kitchener returns to bench and is unlucky to miss out but in a power game on the smaller Welford Road pitch Louis Deacon's strengths cannot be excluded.
A welcome return to the Match day squad is hooker Rob Hawkins. Hawkins has yet to feature in a match day squad this season after a shoulder injury in the summer and he will surely be highly motivated against his home town.
Bath have been in superb form this season with 11 wins in succession until they faced Northampton at the Garden's last weekend.
They name a strong team with former Tigers fly half George Ford in at 10. Whilst Ford's status as the league's top scorer has more to do with Bath's tactics of kicking their penalties at goal rather than for territory he is in reasonably nick none the less.
He teams up with want away League star Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph in a talented but light weight mid-field. The winger Matt Banahan more than compensates for any lack of bulk elsewhere; let's just hope he doesn't pole axe any of our players this year.
Also featuring is last year's red card shame flanker Francois Louw. The RFU might have preferred to shame the touch judge into retiring by over turning his decision, with no evidence, but those of us on the terrace know that Louw's red card was fully deserved.
A less extreme incident in the Millenium Stadium in November earned him a yellow card for South Africa so perhaps he has learned the tiniest of lessons.
Referee J.P. Doyle hails from Dublin and joined the RFU's refereeing department after traveling to London for University. He has refereed the Tigers 14 times previously with Leicester winning 11, losing 2 and drawing that memorable game against Saints earlier this season. Doyle has a reputation of a more hands off referee which can lead to exciting but lower scoring games.
The game has been moved to a Sunday lunch time for BT Sports, the effect can be seen as tickets sold are expected to be under 23,000 for such a big game. To make matter worse it will not even be on BT Sports 1 as that channel is showing, of all teams, Derby! What a way to rub salt in the wound.
Leicester
15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Toby Flood (c)
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mélé
22 Scott Hamilton
23 Matt Smith
Bath
15 Nick Abendanon
14 Anthony Watson
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Matt Banahan
10 George Ford
9 Peter Stringer
1 Paul James
2 Rob Webber
3 Anthony Perenise
4 Stuart Hooper ( c )
5 Dave Attwood
6 Matt Garvey
7 Francois Louw
8 Carl Fearns
Replacements
16 Eusebio Guinazu
17 Nathan Catt
18 Juan Pablo Orlandi
19 Dominic Day
20 Leroy Houston
21 Martin Roberts
22 Ollie Devoto
23 Horacio Agulla
Leicester Kit:
Bath Kit:
Referee: J.P. Doyle
Touch Judges: Ashly Rowden & Gareth Copsey
TV: BT Sports 2 HD, Sunday 1PM (KO: 2PM)
Let's make no bones about it; this is a crucial game. Some people have been fooled into complacency by the stats from last week's programme that we are level pegging with last season. It is true our record of wins, losses and tries from round 9 were tied.
But after the equivalent fixtures last year we beat Worcester and went top. This year we are 13 points from second place. For some context after the atrocious start to the 2011/12 season, when we were denied so many of our player by the World Cup we made it to this stage of the season 10 points from a home semi final.
Since the play offs were introduced we have only once been this far from a home semi final after 11 rounds; that was 2003/4 when were only above Rotherham and Saracens in the table and saw Deano's departure not long after.
Northampton and Saracens have stolen a march on us in 2013. It's time for Tigers to show their teeth and make 2014 our year again.
Toby Flood makes his 100th start for the club after recovering from a leg injury suffered away to Montpellier. It is sad that such a historic start is his first since announcing he was jumping ship and giving up the Tigers captaincy to chase more cash. By my records he is the first Tigers captain to leave for money. Murphy, Corry, Johnson and Deano all retired in the role.
Interestingly Owen Williams retains the fly half jersey with Flood moving to inside centre for only the 3rd time in his century of starts. Let's hope for better results than the two losses suffered to Cardiff and Ospreys in the other games.
Miles Benjamin returns on the wing in place of Adam Thompstone, Benjamin rewarded for his fine form and Thompstone punished for his poor attempted tackle on Mark Cueto last week.
In the pack Jordan Crane and Thomas Waldrom once again rotate at number 8 but the rest is unchanged. Graham Kitchener returns to bench and is unlucky to miss out but in a power game on the smaller Welford Road pitch Louis Deacon's strengths cannot be excluded.
A welcome return to the Match day squad is hooker Rob Hawkins. Hawkins has yet to feature in a match day squad this season after a shoulder injury in the summer and he will surely be highly motivated against his home town.
Bath have been in superb form this season with 11 wins in succession until they faced Northampton at the Garden's last weekend.
They name a strong team with former Tigers fly half George Ford in at 10. Whilst Ford's status as the league's top scorer has more to do with Bath's tactics of kicking their penalties at goal rather than for territory he is in reasonably nick none the less.
He teams up with want away League star Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph in a talented but light weight mid-field. The winger Matt Banahan more than compensates for any lack of bulk elsewhere; let's just hope he doesn't pole axe any of our players this year.
Also featuring is last year's red card shame flanker Francois Louw. The RFU might have preferred to shame the touch judge into retiring by over turning his decision, with no evidence, but those of us on the terrace know that Louw's red card was fully deserved.
A less extreme incident in the Millenium Stadium in November earned him a yellow card for South Africa so perhaps he has learned the tiniest of lessons.
Referee J.P. Doyle hails from Dublin and joined the RFU's refereeing department after traveling to London for University. He has refereed the Tigers 14 times previously with Leicester winning 11, losing 2 and drawing that memorable game against Saints earlier this season. Doyle has a reputation of a more hands off referee which can lead to exciting but lower scoring games.
The game has been moved to a Sunday lunch time for BT Sports, the effect can be seen as tickets sold are expected to be under 23,000 for such a big game. To make matter worse it will not even be on BT Sports 1 as that channel is showing, of all teams, Derby! What a way to rub salt in the wound.
Leicester
15 Mathew Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Toby Flood (c)
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ed Slater
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Rob Hawkins
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 David Mélé
22 Scott Hamilton
23 Matt Smith
Bath
15 Nick Abendanon
14 Anthony Watson
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Matt Banahan
10 George Ford
9 Peter Stringer
1 Paul James
2 Rob Webber
3 Anthony Perenise
4 Stuart Hooper ( c )
5 Dave Attwood
6 Matt Garvey
7 Francois Louw
8 Carl Fearns
Replacements
16 Eusebio Guinazu
17 Nathan Catt
18 Juan Pablo Orlandi
19 Dominic Day
20 Leroy Houston
21 Martin Roberts
22 Ollie Devoto
23 Horacio Agulla
Leicester Kit:
Bath Kit:
Referee: J.P. Doyle
Touch Judges: Ashly Rowden & Gareth Copsey
TV: BT Sports 2 HD, Sunday 1PM (KO: 2PM)
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