Bristol v Leicester: Teams
Bristol coach Richard Hill is happy with his options, while Leicester Tigers hand debuts to five players.
By Tony Curtis
Last Updated: 14/09/07 5:55pm
Bristol coach Richard Hill has the rare luxury of having all but one player fit for the opening game of the season against Leicester.
Only Dan Ward-Smith is ruled out through injury, with the No.8 still recovering from knee surgery, however Bristol are without Alfie To'oala, Mark Regan, David Lemi and Shaun Perry - with the quartet all on World Cup duty.
And Hill is happy to have competition for places to take on the Tigers.
Hill told the club's official site: "The start of the season has seemed a long time coming with the extra two weeks. So, everyone is really keen to get going.
"Unusually following a tough pre-season we've got most of the squad available for selection. I think we're only unable to call on about five out of fifty players.
"So, it's been good to be able to choose from so many people. There's been good competition for places and it's been a difficult selection."
Debut
With Perry away, Hill has handed former Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Graeme Beveridge his debut, while short-term signing Paul Fincken is on the bench. Haydn Thomas is also in line for his first appearance should he be called upon.
Leicester coach Richard Cockerill is backing his depleted Tigers squad to rise to the challenge - despite the absence of their World Cup stars.
Cockerill has named five new faces in his side, with first starts for Ayoola Erinle, Boris Stankovich, Benjamin Kayser, Marco Wentzel and Owen Finegan.
And Cockerill is looking forward to seeing how his side gel together.
He told the club's official site: "There is a good squad here, as we keep saying, even with the World Cup boys away and I have huge belief in the guys who are involved.
Balance
"Of all the selection decisions, the back five in the scrum provided the most questions and I have gone for a balance there to play this weekend's game.
"Owen Finegan gives us physicality and experience at a place where traditionally we have found it hard. Jordan Crane is unfortunate that he is the one to miss out, even though he has played very well.
"Marco Wentzel will also play his first league game for us and the balance between physicality and athleticism is the key for us."
Bristol: 15 Josh Taumalolo, 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Sam Cox, 11 Craig Morgan, 10 David Hill, 9 Graeme Beveridge, 1 Dave Hilton, 2 Scott Linklater, 3 Darren Crompton, 4 Roy Winters, 5 Gareth Llewellyn, 6 Matt Salter, 7 Joe El Abd, 8 Andrew Blowers.
Replacements: 16 Paul Fincken, 17 Jason Hobson, 18 Nathan Budgett, 19 James Phillips, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Jason Strange, 22 Rob Higgitt.
Leicester: 15 Johne Murphy, 14 Ayoola Erinle, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Sam Vesty, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Frank Murphy, 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Julian White, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 5 Marco Wentzel, 6 Owen Finegan, 7 Luke Abraham, 8 Brett Deacon.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 David Young, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Paul Burke, 22 Matt Cornwell.