Preview: Leicester v London Wasps
September 25 2008
Leicester coach Heyneke Meyer has made three changes to his Tigers team for the Guinness Premiership match against London Wasps at Welford Road on Friday.
Meyer gives a first start of the season to prop Dan Cole, lock Marco Wentzel and back row Ben Woods, while the back-line remains intact after a third successive victory at Worcester Warriors last Saturday.
Tighthead prop Cole steps up after two appearances from the bench, while Wentzel and Woods have been used as replacements in each of the wins against Gloucester, London Irish and Worcester.
"We have won three games from the start of the season and, while we have to be happy with that, we know there is more to come from the team and the aim is to keep improving in every game," said Meyer.
"I have been very pleased with the character of the team and, although we have a few injuries, we have a good squad and the young players are getting opportunities and they have looked quite good."
Meanwhile, journeying to the home of their oldest foes, London Wasps have made four changes and one positional switch to the starting line-up.
With three games in eight days, kicking off the action in the midlands on Friday, followed by a home tie with Bath on Wednesday and a trip to Gloucester on Saturday, selection choices and changes have been influenced by the tight schedule as well as injuries to the squad.
Captaining the side for Friday's trip to Welford Road, Phil Vickery will lead Wasps for their first clash with the Tigers since meeting at Twickenham in the Guinness Premiership final last season, while club captain Raphael Ibanez is rested for this game.
In the front row, Rob Webber comes in for the injured Joe Ward and hooker Damien Varley, currently on loan to the club from Munster, takes a seat on the bench.
Mark Robinson will make his first start for the club since joining at the start of the season, replacing Eoin Reddan who moves to the bench. Similarly Jeremy Staunton will start for Wasps at fly-half, switching with Dave Walder who joins the replacements.
A positional switch sees Tom Voyce move to full-back and Josh Lewsey to the wing, while Tom Rees returns to the back row in place of James Haskell who unavailable for this game.
"We know Leicester are playing well and we know we've got to up our game at Welford Road," said Wasps Director of Rugby, Ian McGeechan.
Form: Table topping Leicester Tigers have won their last four regular season games in the Guinness Premiership since the 25-28 reversal at Newcastle on May 4. The Tigers' last home defeat in the Premiership was 19-24 to tonight's visitors Wasps on March 29. Leicester have lost their last three games under floodlights in the Premiership.
The teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Ben Woods, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Martin Corry (c), 3 Dan Cole, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Julian White, 18 Ben Kay, 19 Ben Herring, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Tom Youngs, 22 Ayoola Erinle.
London Wasps: 15 Tom Voyce, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Jeremy Staunton, 9 Mark Robinson, 8 John Hart, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Richard Birkett, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Pat Barnard, 18 Dan Leo, 19 Serge Betsen, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Dave Walder, 22 Rob Hoadley.
Date: Friday 26 September, 2008
Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)