13 Nov at Sixways KO 12.30
Worcester Team News
Worcester Warriors have named the side to play Leicester Tigers at Sixways on Saturday 13th November 2004 kick off 12.30pm. The Team is...
15. Thinus DELPORT
14. Daren O'LEARY
13. Dale RASMUSSEN
12. Gary TRUEMAN
11. Ben GOLLINGS
10. Tommy AYES
9. Clive STUART-SMITH
8. Drew HICKEY
7. Pat SANDERSON (capt)
6. Leon GREEFF
5. Craig GILLIES
4. Tim COLLIER
3. Chris HORSMAN
2. Ben DALY
1. Tony WINDO
Replacements:
16. Phil MURPHY 17. Andre Van NIEKERK 18. Neil LYMAN 19. Matt POWELL 20. Mark GABEY 21. Paul SAMPSON 22. Duncan ROKE.
Leicester Team News
Louis and Brett Deacon are back in Leicester Tigers' starting line-up for this Saturday's Zurich Premiership clash against Worcester Warriors at Sixways. Lock Louis, who has battled with a shoulder injury in recent weeks, replaces Ben Kay, whilst flanker Brett, who started Tigers' first six matches of the season, comes in for Henry Tuilagi, who shifts to No.8 to cover for Martin Corry.
Deacon senior, the Tigers' Players' Player of The Season for 2003/04, had been in fine form this season and pushing hard for an England place - only to suffer a shoulder injury at an EPS training day, which saw him miss recent games against NEC Harlequins, Calvisano, Biarritz and Gloucester.
"Had Louis not been injured, he could've pushed hard for an England place during the autumn internationals - be that as a starter or a bench," said Tigers head coach John Wells. "The way he was playing, anything was possible."
Kay and Corry are currently with the England squad ahead of Saturday's game against Canada, along with props Graham Rowntree and Julian White and flanker Lewis Moody. Tigers scrum-half Harry Ellis, who would have been in the England team were it not for his Achilles Tendon injury, has remained with the national squad this week.
Added Wells on Harry's injury: "It's a difficult injury to get on top off - it needs time, rest and a lot of quality treatment. Harry, to be fair to us and England, has been getting that with the intention to try and get him back on the pitch as soon as possible. I know that he will be champing at the bit, but both parties need to ensure that he gets it right. I'm pretty sure in my own mind that had he not been injured he would've started against Canada, which suggests that he will be involved at some point when he regains his fitness."
Louis and Brett Deacon will wear jersey numbers five and six respectively, with veteran Neil Back returning to the starting line-up and taking over the now vacant No.7 shirt - a position he has occupied almost exclusively for the last 14 years.
In other international-related changes to Tigers' line-up, young front rower Michael Holford replaces Rowntree at loosehead prop, whilst Welsh international Darren Morris comes in for Julian White on the tighthead side. One of Matt Hampson or Colin Noon - who is on loan from Rotherham Titans - will sit on the bench as Tigers' propping reserve.
"We identified early in the season that we would battle for experience during autumn if we lost players to the England team," said Wells. "You need experienced players in your front row, so we sourced Colin, who at that time was part of the Rotherham set-up, which has changed somewhat because of their financial situation. We've got Colin for the next three weeks after which he can go back to Rotherham and should we need him later in the season, he can return again."
Tigers' backline remains virtually unchanged from the one that did duty against Gloucester last Saturday - a game that Tigers won 28-13 - except for the No.14 position. Dan Hipkiss, who started there last week, is out with an ankle injury and his two possible replacements, Austin Healey and Alesana Tuilagi, are battling with injuries.
Explained Wells: "We had Alesana down to start, but he was unable to train today (Wednesday) because of his ankle and we then looked at John Holtby, but he broke down at training, really as a result of the injuries he's been carrying in recent weeks. Austin stepped up today and got through training, but we'll have to see about his involvement later in the week.
"Austin's battling with a number of injuries around his backside, lower back, groin and hamstring. If he gets rid of one, another one crops up, so he's gone to see a specialist to prescribe a course of treatment or what else may be necessary to get him through the season."
Wells has once again named an extended bench, which he hopes to finalise before the weekend and he said of the challenge of travelling to Sixways to face the Zurich Premiership new-boys: "Their results thus far are perhaps not a fair indication of some of the qualities that they have and without a doubt both Bath and Gloucester have said that prior to playing us, their games against Worcester had been their hardest fixture because of the physicality and toughness of their pack. We're going there with a lot of changes up front, but there's a lot of quality in the guys that have to step up and I'd like to think that we have enough quality in our side to take this team on."
Leicester Tigers team to face Worcester Warriors:
15 Sam Vesty
14 Austin Healey/Alesana Tuilagi
13 Seru Rabeni
12 Daryl Gibson
11 Tom Varndell
10 Andy Goode
9 Scott Bemand
1 Michael Holford
2 James Buckland
3 Darren Morris
4 Martin Johnson (captain)
5 Louis Deacon
6 Brett Deacon
7 Neil Back
8 Henry Tuilagi
Replacements (from):
Richard Cockerill
Matt Hampson
Colin Noon
James Hamilton
Will Johnson
Will Skinner
Matt Cornwell
Ross Broadfoot
Unavailable for selection because of injury: Steve Booth (knee), Ollie Smith (shoulder), Leon Lloyd (knee), Dan Hipkiss (ankle), John Holtby (shoulder, neck).
On international duty: Graham Rowntree, Julian White, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry and Harry Ellis (all England) and Geordan Murphy (Ireland).
Deacon Brothers Return for Leicester Tigers
Louis and Brett Deacon are back in Leicester Tigers' starting line-up for this Saturday's Zurich Premiership clash against Worcester Warriors at Sixways. Lock Louis, who has battled with a shoulder injury in recent weeks, replaces Ben Kay, whilst flanker Brett, who started Tigers' first six matches of the season, comes in for Henry Tuilagi, who shifts to No.8 to cover for Martin Corry.
Deacon senior, the Tigers' Players' Player of The Season for 2003/04, had been in fine form this season and pushing hard for an England place - only to suffer a shoulder injury at an EPS training day, which saw him miss recent games against NEC Harlequins, Calvisano, Biarritz and Gloucester.
"Had Louis not been injured, he could've pushed hard for an England place during the autumn internationals - be that as a starter or a bench," said Tigers head coach John Wells. "The way he was playing, anything was possible."
Kay and Corry are currently with the England squad ahead of Saturday's game against Canada, along with props Graham Rowntree and Julian White and flanker Lewis Moody. Tigers scrum-half Harry Ellis, who would have been in the England team were it not for his Achilles Tendon injury, has remained with the national squad this week.
Added Wells on Harry's injury: "It's a difficult injury to get on top off - it needs time, rest and a lot of quality treatment. Harry, to be fair to us and England, has been getting that with the intention to try and get him back on the pitch as soon as possible. I know that he will be champing at the bit, but both parties need to ensure that he gets it right. I'm pretty sure in my own mind that had he not been injured he would've started against Canada, which suggests that he will be involved at some point when he regains his fitness."
Louis and Brett Deacon will wear jersey numbers five and six respectively, with veteran Neil Back returning to the starting line-up and taking over the now vacant No.7 shirt - a position he has occupied almost exclusively for the last 14 years.
In other international-related changes to Tigers' line-up, young front rower Michael Holford replaces Rowntree at loosehead prop, whilst Welsh international Darren Morris comes in for Julian White on the tighthead side. One of Matt Hampson or Colin Noon - who is on loan from Rotherham Titans - will sit on the bench as Tigers' propping reserve.
"We identified early in the season that we would battle for experience during autumn if we lost players to the England team," said Wells. "You need experienced players in your front row, so we sourced Colin, who at that time was part of the Rotherham set-up, which has changed somewhat because of their financial situation. We've got Colin for the next three weeks after which he can go back to Rotherham and should we need him later in the season, he can return again."
Tigers' backline remains virtually unchanged from the one that did duty against Gloucester last Saturday - a game that Tigers won 28-13 - except for the No.14 position. Dan Hipkiss, who started there last week, is out with an ankle injury and his two possible replacements, Austin Healey and Alesana Tuilagi, are battling with injuries.
Explained Wells: "We had Alesana down to start, but he was unable to train today (Wednesday) because of his ankle and we then looked at John Holtby, but he broke down at training, really as a result of the injuries he's been carrying in recent weeks. Austin stepped up today and got through training, but we'll have to see about his involvement later in the week.
"Austin's battling with a number of injuries around his backside, lower back, groin and hamstring. If he gets rid of one, another one crops up, so he's gone to see a specialist to prescribe a course of treatment or what else may be necessary to get him through the season."
Wells has once again named an extended bench, which he hopes to finalise before the weekend and he said of the challenge of travelling to Sixways to face the Zurich Premiership new-boys: "Their results thus far are perhaps not a fair indication of some of the qualities that they have and without a doubt both Bath and Gloucester have said that prior to playing us, their games against Worcester had been their hardest fixture because of the physicality and toughness of their pack. We're going there with a lot of changes up front, but there's a lot of quality in the guys that have to step up and I'd like to think that we have enough quality in our side to take this team on."
Leicester Tigers team to face Worcester Warriors:
15 Sam Vesty
14 Austin Healey/Alesana Tuilagi
13 Seru Rabeni
12 Daryl Gibson
11 Tom Varndell
10 Andy Goode
9 Scott Bemand
1 Michael Holford
2 James Buckland
3 Darren Morris
4 Martin Johnson (captain)
5 Louis Deacon
6 Brett Deacon
7 Neil Back
8 Henry Tuilagi
Replacements (from):
Richard Cockerill
Matt Hampson
Colin Noon
James Hamilton
Will Johnson
Will Skinner
Matt Cornwell
Ross Broadfoot
Unavailable for selection because of injury: Steve Booth (knee), Ollie Smith (shoulder), Leon Lloyd (knee), Dan Hipkiss (ankle), John Holtby (shoulder, neck).
On international duty: Graham Rowntree, Julian White, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry and Harry Ellis (all England) and Geordan Murphy (Ireland).
Statistics
[No Premiership Matches Played]
Worcester have slipped to three successive Premiership defeats since they beat Harlequins 33-7 at Sixways on 2 October, whilst at home they have won two of their last three matches – over Harlequins and Brive.
Leicester are seven matches undefeated in the Zurich Premiership with the only blot on their copybook this season in the competition being an opening day loss at Sale. The Tigers, along with Bath, are the best away sides in the Premiership both gaining 15 league points on their travels this campaign.
This is the clubs’ first ever encounter in the Premiership but they did meet in the 6th round of the cup at Welford Road in December 2002, a match which Leicester won 36-9. |
