It's all change for Leicester Tigers in big Euro clash
Leicester Tigers have their big guns primed as they head into their most important match of the season to date.
Richard Cockerill's men face the Ospreys in a massive Heineken Cup pool two clash at Swansea's Liberty Stadium tomorrow.
The side Tigers have named to face the Welshmen bears little resemblance to the XV which started the narrow Aviva Premiership win at Worcester nine days ago.
England men Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Geoff Parling are all recalled to the pack, while Ben Youngs starts at scrum-half and another England international, Manu Tuilagi, is named in the centres alongside Anthony Allen.
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Also starting in south Wales are prop Marcos Ayerza, back-row forward Julian Salvi and Jordan Crane, who is named ahead of Thomas Waldrom at No.8.
Waldrom is on the replacements bench as is Ed Slater, who was named in the England Saxons squad this week.
Matt Smith is also among the replacements offering versatility at either centre or wing.
Ospreys have named flanker Justin Tipuric in their side after he recovered from a shoulder injury. However, centre Ashley Beck has been ruled out with an ankle problem.
Tigers head the group as they prepare to travel west, but the Ospreys gave themselves a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals when they beat Toulouse 17-6, in Wales, before Christmas.
Cockerill, Tigers' director of rugby, knows just how tough an assignment his side are facing against a team they saw off 39-22 when the pair met at Welford Road, in October.
"We go there trying to earn the right to be the best team," he said. "It was very tight at Welford Road before we ran away with it.
"We have a huge amount of respect for them. They are well coached. They have a good half-back pairing and are dangerous in the channels. Their back five is practically the Welsh back five and there is a lot to respect in that. Dan Biggar is a good goal-kicker and we have to be very disciplined."
Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy described it as a "massive" game.
He said: "Leicester will come down here confident after some good results of their own lately and we know that we are going to have to match them physically."
Comments
by wigono
Sunday, January 13 2013, 2:30AM
“If we are to win this the whole team had better stay awake & not give away so many silly tries & penalties in the first few minutes, they continue to kick possession away. the forwards do all the work then get over confident whilst in a position of great scoring opportunity thinking the ref won't see if they cheat = give away a good scoring chance . They cannot score any points when opponents are down to 14 or even 13.... just a couple of weaknesses that the ospreys will know about...If we tighten up these areas we may stand a chance of some points i really can't see it...... i see giving away tries & penalties in the first 20mins mountain to climb leaving us wide open”
by WestRydeFox
Saturday, January 12 2013, 11:03PM
“Good luck Tigers!
Chris, Canberra - A Land Downunder”
by Tomsdad09
Saturday, January 12 2013, 7:05PM
“Wrong site mate, I think you want this one: http://tinyurl.com/bgqtpqe”
by Oadbylad
Saturday, January 12 2013, 9:42AM
“I expect Tigers to win....just....But im afraid it will be yet another win ugly game
From the coach down they've all got in the mind set of cockeril's game plan (up the middle)and seem unable to now get the ball to the wingers...either unable or they've forgot”