Tigers hunting a Wasps double
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:30
Leicester Tigers head coach Marcelo Loffreda has made just two personnel changes to his starting XV from last weekend's EDF Energy Cup semifinal win over London Wasps for Saturday's Guinness Premiership clash against the same opposition.
Jordan Crane comes in at No.8, with Martin Corry moving to the flank, and Argentina's Marcos Ayerza starting at loosehead prop.
Ayerza's elevation to the starting XV means that Tigers now include seven internationals in the pack, with a further six named in the backline.
Dan Hipkiss and Seru Rabeni continue in the centres, having both scored tries in last Saturday's 34-24 victory at the Millennium Stadium, while Harry Ellis and Andy Goode are named as halfback pairing, with Johne Murphy joined by Tom Varndell and Alesana Tuilagi in the back three.
England internationals George Chuter, Louis Deacon, Ben Kay, Tom Croft and Corry join Ayerza, Crane and Italian cap Martin Castrogiovanni in the forwards.
Richard Blaze returns from injury to be named in the matchday squad for the first time since December's home fixture with Toulouse, while Ollie Smith is also named among the replacements having missed last Saturday's win over Wasps in Cardiff.
Leicester: 15 Johne Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Dan Hipkiss, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Tom Croft, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Julian White, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Brett Deacon, 20 Christophe Lausuccq, 21 Sam Vesty, 22 Ollie Smith.
Date: Saturday, 29 March
Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 14.45 GMT
Referee: Chris White
Touch judges: Peter Huckle, Steve Terheege
Television match official:
Brian Abrahams, Graham Hughes
With thanks to guinnesspremiership.com
