Tigers change two for Falcons clash
Sat, 03 May 2008 12:07
Marcelo Loffreda has made two changes to his Leicester Tigers team for the crucial Guinness Premiership trip to Newcastle Falcons on Sunday.
Marco Wentzel returns to the second row after injury, while Benjamin Kayser gets the nod at hooker.
Wentzel's selection means a return to the back row for skipper Martin Corry for the penultimate league game of the season.
"We know exactly what we need to do in the last two games," said Loffreda. "We will travel with a positive attitude but we know we will have to play very well.
"The players had a few extra days off last week when we did not have a game, but then we came back to prepare for the two massive games against Newcastle and Harlequins."
Ben Herring is ruled out by injury, while Johne Murphy also sits this one out after suffering a knee injury in the match at Bath two weeks ago.
Also on the injured list are Luke Abraham, Louis Deacon, James Hamilton and Lewis Moody, while Seru Rabeni is suspended.
In the first of two home games in the space of four days, acting director of rugby Steve Bates has made six changes to the Newcastle side.
Jon Golding gets a start at loosehead with Andy Long in at hooker, while a shoulder injury for Mark Sorenson sees Andy Buist move up to the second row as Geoff Parling goes on to the blindside flank.
Ben Woods returns on the openside after hand trouble.
On the bench there could be a first Kingston Park appearance for back-row Ross Beattie in his second spell at the club.
Newcastle: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Tom May, 13 Tom Dillon, 12 Tim Visser, 11 John Rudd, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ben Woods, 6 Geoff Parling, 5 Andy Buist, 4 Andy Perry, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Andy Long, 1 Jon Golding. Replacements:16 Rob Vickers, 17 David Wilson, 18 Ross Beattie, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Ed Williamson, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Ollie Phillips
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Tom Croft, 6 Martin Corry (c), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Julian White, 2 Benjamin Kayser,1 Martin Castrogiovanni. Replacements:16 Marcos Ayerza, 17 Mefin Davies, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Brett Deacon, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Sam Vesty, 22 Ayoola Erinle
