Tigers grab the Lions Share

Six Leicester Tigers have today been selected to tour Australia with the British Lions.  Ben & Tom Youngs will be the first brothers to tour together since fellow Tigers Rory & Tony Underwood 20 years ago; they are joined by Geoff Parling, Dan Cole, Manu Tuilagi and Tom Croft.

Croft, who played in all 3 test matches four years ago in South Africa, becomes the 10th Tigers player to go on a second tour after Neil Back (1997 ,2001, 2005), Martin Johnson (1993, 1997, 2001), Dean Richards (1989, 1993), Rory Underwood (1989, 1993), Peter Wheeler (1977, 1980), Martin Corry (2001, 2005), Graham Rowntree (1997, 2005), Clive Woodward (1980, 1983) and Austin Healey (1997, 2001).

Rowntree is of course going on this summer's tour as forwards coach and was an assistant coach in 2009.  Clive Woodward coached the 2005 tourists and 1930 Tour captain Doug Prentice, a lock and number 8, was manager of the 1936 tour.

The 6 selected is the second most Tigers to tour behind the 8 named for the 2005 Lions and ties with the number who toured South Africa with the victorious 1997 Lions.  Tigers last solo tourist was Peter Wheeler in 1977 and the last tour to have no representation from Leicester was 1968.

Manu Tuilagi and Dan Cole are the 16th and 17th players educated in Leicestershire & Rutland to be selected for the Lions after Alfred Hind (1903), Tom Smith (1908), Kenneth Wood (1910), Doug Prentice (1930), Doug Kendrew (1930), Bernard Gadney (1936), Paul Dodge (1980), Dean Richards (1989, 1993), Martin Johnson (1993, 1997, 2001), Graham Rowntree (1997, 2005), Dorian West (2001), Lewis Moody (2005), Ollie Smith (2005), Harry Ellis (2009) and Tom Croft (2009, 2013).  Prentice, Gadney and Johnson all captained a Lions tour, Johnson famously being the only man to lead the Lions twice in both 1997 and 2001.

The 2013 squad is dominated by Gatland's Welsh players as they provide 15 of the 37 man party, though club-wise it is Tigers and Leinster who supply the most players with 6 players apiece, reigning RaboDirect Champions the Ospreys provide 5 players whilst English champions Harlequins have been snubbed with no players selected.  Chris Robshaw becomes the 3rd England captain in the last 5 tours to miss out on selection after Phil De Glanville (1997) and Steve Borthwick (2009).  

The surprise picks are the kilted kiwi Sean Maitland and English prop Matt Stevens who has retired from international duty with England.  Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson has ruled himself out of contention as he commits himself to the French side's quest for a league and cup double, unlike Gethin Jenkins.  The Welsh prop will presumably rule himself out of any potential Top 14 final to take his seat on the plane for Hong Kong which leaves the week before.  That won't win him many friends in the south of France but as he has already signed for next season at Cardiff I doubt he minds much.  

2013 British & Irish Lions squad
Backs:
Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff & Wales)
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow & Scotland)
Rob Kearney (Leinster & Ireland)
Tommy Bowe (Ulster & Ireland)
Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff & Wales)
Sean Maitland (Glasgow & Scotland)
George North (Llanelli & Wales)
Jonathan Davies (Llanelli & Wales)
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster & Ireland)
Jamie Roberts (Cardiff & Wales) Manu Tuilagi (Leicester & England)
Owen Farrell (Saracens & England)
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster & Ireland)
Conor Murray (Munster & Ireland)
Mike Phillips (Bayonne & Wales) Ben Youngs (Leicester & England)

Forwards:
Dan Cole (Leicester & England)
Cian Healy (Leinster & Ireland)
Gethin Jenkins (Toulon & Wales)
Adam Jones (Ospreys & Wales)
Matt Stevens (Saracens & England)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens & England)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton & England)
Richard "My Eyes" Hibbard (Ospreys & Wales) Tom Youngs (Leicester & England)
Ian Evans (Ospreys & Wales)
Richie Gray (Sale & Scotland)
Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys & Wales)
Paul O'Connell (Munster & Ireland) Geoff Parling (Leicester & England)
Tom Croft (Leicester & England)
Toby Faletau (Newport & Wales)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster & Ireland)
Dan Lydiate (Newport & Wales)
Sean O'Brien (Leinster & Ireland)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys & Wales)
Sam Warburton (c) (Cardiff & Wales)

Breakdown by Club:
Leicester: 6
Leinster: 6
Ospreys: 5
Cardiff: 4
Saracens: 3
Glasgow, Munster, Newport, Llanelli: 2
Northampton, Sale, Toulon, Bayonne, Ulster: 1

Leicester's 36 Previous Lions:

By position (Bold have Test caps)

FB: John Jackett (1908), Dusty Hare (1983), Geordan Murphy (2005)

W: Alfred Hind (1903), Alexander Obolonsky (1936), Rory Underwood (1989, 1993), Tony Underwood (1993)

C: Ken Wood (1910), Clive Woodward (1980, 1983), Paul Dodge (1980), Will Greenwood (1997), Ollie Smith (2005)

FH: J.P. Horrocks-Taylor (1959), Alan Old (1974)

SH: Bernard Gadney (1936), Austin Healey (1997, 2001), Harry Ellis (2009)

P: Doug Kendrew (1930), Graham Rowntree (1997, 2005), Julian White (2005)

H: Peter Wheeler (1977, 1980), Dorian West (2001)

L: Tom Smith (1908), Doug Prentice (1930), Charles Beamish (1936), Martin Johnson (1993, 1997, 2001), Ben Kay (2005)

F: Roger Arneil (1971), Neil Back (1997, 2001, 2005), Eric Miller (1997), Lewis Moody (2005), Tom Croft (2009)

8: Fred Jackson (1908), George Beamish (1930), Dean Richards (1989, 1993), Martin Corry (2001, 2005)

Flood to face Italians

Stuart Lancaster makes 5 changes to his England side for the challenge of Italy this Sunday, naming 7 Tigers in the 23.  Tigers' Toby Flood is restored to the line up after Owen Farrell failed to recover from a leg injury suffered in the France test match, while his clubmate Ben Youngs drops to the bench in favour of Stuart Lancaster's favourite Danny Care.  Given that Youngs and Flood are one of the most feared half back partnerships in world Rugby it seems bizarre to go with the Yorkshireman, especially given Youngs's outstanding form.

Manu Tuilagi earns his 20th cap at the age of only 21 in the midfield whilst Tigers also have 3 players named in the forward pack.  Tom Youngs is restored to the starting line up after being dropped for the France match, whilst I'm happy for the bulldozing Youngs I wonder what Lancaster expected from Hartley in his 50 minutes against the French.  Dan Cole and Geoff Parling continue their ever present 6 Nations in the front and second row respectively.

Returning to International Rugby after almost a year's absence with injury is flanker Tom Croft.  Croft was in world class form last weekend against Sale and his return to the fold is thoroughly deserved.


England Team to face Italy
15. Alex Goode (Saracens, 9 caps)
14. Chris Ashton (Saracens, 32 caps)
13. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
12. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 14 caps)
11. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 14 caps)
10. Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 55 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 39 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 7 caps)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps)
4. Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 7 caps)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps)
6. James Haskell (London Wasps, 48 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 15 caps)
8. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
Replacements
16. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 45 caps)
17. David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 24 caps) 
18. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 8 caps) 
19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
20. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps) 
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps) 
22. Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
23. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)

Ben's 30th Already

Ben Youngs will win his 30th cap when he steps out on the Aviva Stadium turf this Sunday.  3 years after his debut away to Scotland the Tigers ace has already played in wins over Australia and New Zealand for England and beaten South Africa with Leicester.  Alongside him will be older brother Tom making his 6th consecutive start after his debut this Autumn.  The Tigers in the starting line up are rounded out by Dan Cole, winning his 37th cap, and Geoff Parling, winning his 14th.

Manu Tuilagi is named as a replacement for the first time in his 17 match test career, and only the 6th time in his senior career.  He is joined on the bench by Toby Flood, who in contrast will earn his 20th cap from the bench, and number 8 Thomas Waldrom. 

England (v Ireland, Sunday 3pm, Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
15 Alex Goode (Saracens, 7 caps)
14 Chris Ashton (Saracens, 30 caps)
13 Brad Barritt (Saracens, 12 caps)
12 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester, 1 cap)
11 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 12 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 13 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 29 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 6 caps)
2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 36 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 5 caps)
5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
6 James Haskell (London Wasps, 46 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 13 caps) (c)
8 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
Replacements
16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 43 caps)
17 David Wilson (Bath, 23 caps)
18 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 5 caps)
19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
20 Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins, 38 caps)
22 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 54 caps)
23 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)

ABC More thought on Bath encounter

A. Murphy’s Tiger Spirit is Indispensible

Geordan Murphy’s late introduction changed the game.  He showed that real Tiger spirit and drive.  He increased the physicality almost immediately and Bath just couldn’t deal with it.  He provides a wealth of experience in an otherwise novice backline, which with Tony Allen’s concussion on Saturday is only getting worse in the short term.  He simply must start against Treviso this Sunday as failure to get 4 tries could be disastrous if we are still a club that aims for a home quarter final in the Heineken Cup.  Matt Tait has been going well enough at full back but it’s that Tigers X factor he lacks compared to Murphy.  Luckily a spot’s just opened up in centres.

B. Young Gun Starts Firing

Micky Young had a cracking game to back up his LV Cup performance against London Irish.  He brings much more physicality to his game than our other scrum halfs, which is both a strength and a weakness as at times he can be over keen to commit to rucks.  But his snipping game round the fringes is most like Ben Youngs, the way he used Marcos Ayerza and Jordan Crane to unlock Bath’s defence was a terrific piece of interplay; if it had finished as a try it would have been highlighted much much more.  Will struggle to overtake Ben Youngs but what a back up to have; hopefully he will stay beyond this season but he will have rival Premiership coaches on red alert if they are looking for a 9.

C. England Boys are World Class

Hardly a revelation to most of us but Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Manu Tuilagi and the Youngs brothers are quietly blossoming into World Class players.  And the hard definition of World Class too, legitimately the best players in their shirts in the world.  No centre has Manu Tuilagi's range of skills allayed to his powerful super human physique.  Dan Cole has quickly over taken Castro at club level and laid waste to the challengers at international level, nobody even comes close anymore.  Tom Youngs rise has been meteoric; he is still yet to start 10 Premiership games for Tigers but has outplayed every opponent he has faced.  Ben Youngs is confirming all his early promise with ever more influential displays.  You need World Class players to win the Heineken Cup, we certainly did in 2001, so maybe the glory days are finally on the horizon again?

Local Lads to be England Mascots

This Saturday at Twickenham all England players will be accompanied by an Under-12 player from the junior club where they started their rugby education.  Bayley Smith from Hinckley will be with Manu Tuilagi whilst Charlie Jackson from South Leicester will accompany Dan Cole.  This is a terrific idea from the England management, both as a great memory for the kids involved and a thank you to the grass roots clubs that do so much work for Rugby.  Given Hinckley and South's record for producing talent this might not be the last time these boys take to the Twickenham field!

15. Alex Goode - Jake Herrington (Cambridge RFC)
14. Chris Ashton - Aaron Povall (Orrell St James ARLFC)
13. Manusamoa Tuilagi - Bayley Smith (Hinckley RFC)
12. Brad Barritt - James Sugden (Old Albanian RFC)
11. Mike Brown - Jordan Jones (Salisbury RFC)
10. Toby Flood - William Ormiston Stewart (Alnwick RFC)
9. Ben Youngs - Rob Mackenzie (Holt RFC)
1. Alex Corbisiero - Jack Reid (KCS Old Boys RFC)
2. Tom Youngs - Oliver Jaggard (Holt RFC)
3. Dan Cole - Charlie Jackson (South Leicester RFC)
4. Joe Launchbury - Ewan Johnston (Barnet Elizabethans RFC)
5. Geoff Parling - Josh Crozier (Stockton RFC)
6. Tom Wood - Finn Griffiths (Barkers' Butts RFC)
7. Chris Robshaw - Archie McMillan (Warlingham RFC)
8. Ben Morgan - Esme Harper-Coles (Dursley RFC)

Replacements
16. David Paice - Peatrick Shehy (Reading RFC)
17. David Wilson - Will Etchells (Westoe RFC)
18. Mako Vunipola - Cameron Jackson (Thornbury RFC)
19. Mouritz Botha - Finn Cassell (Bedford Athletic)
20 James Haskell - Josh Henderson (Maidenhead RFC)
21. Danny Care - Jack Booth (West Park Leeds RFC)
22. Owen Farrell - Dylan Anglesea (Wigan St Patrick's RLFC)
23. Jonathan Joseph - Billy Willis (Derby RFC)