Leicester v Gloucester: Teams
League-leaders Leicester have made five changes for their Round 20 clash with Gloucester at Welford Road.
By Jamie Casey
Last Updated: 15/04/11 5:13pm
League-leaders Leicester have made five changes for their Round 20 clash with Gloucester at Welford Road on Saturday.
The Tigers are back on home soil after a six-week layoff, in which their Heineken Cup dream was ended by Leinster, hoping to extent their 11-point lead over third-placed Gloucester.
Thomas Waldrom, Martin Castrogiovanni and George Skivington each make a return to the starting XV as boss Richard Cockerill opts to rest a number of jaded stalwarts.
Rob Hawkins, Ben Woods and Billy Twelvetrees also come into the line-up, with captain Craig Newby earning a break, and Cockerill admits it is good to be home after a difficult period.
"It's great to be back at Welford Road after a run of away games and we have two of our last three league games here," Cockerill told Leicester's official website.
"We have to get over the defeat in the Heineken Cup - there is nothing we can do about that now. You just have to pick yourself up and go again.
"There is still a lot to play for this season," added Cockerill, who will hand the captaincy to Tom Croft in Newby's absence.
Changes
"We've made a few changes this week because guys like Craig Newby and Anthony Allen have played a lot of rugby and we need to have everyone fit and fresh for the run-in.
"Gloucester have been going well in the second half of the season and Bryan Redpath is doing a good job there. They're in a good place for a semi-final place themselves and it'll be a good contest."
An Achilles injury prevents lock Louis Deacon from participating as he joins Geordan Murphy, Geoff Parling and Ben Pienaar on the treatment table while Marcos Ayerza is unavailable through suspension.
For Gloucester, Deacon's younger brother Brett is named captain on his return to his former club and scrum-half Dave Lewis will make his first appearance since February.
Lewis' return from a knee injury is one of two changes to the back-line from last weekend's defeat at Sale with Eliota Fuimoano-Sapolu coming in for Tim Molenaar in midfield.
Alasdair Dickinson, Rupert Harden, Will James, Matt Cox and Andy Hazell are all restored to the starting line-up as Gloucester aim to close the gap at the top of the Aviva Premiership.
Gloucester have enjoyed solid results at Welford Road of late, with three wins and a draw in their last eight visits representing creditable form.
Form
Tigers' only defeat in their last 12 league matches was 14-15 at home to Saracens in March but they have lost two of their last three home games in all competitions.
Likewise, Gloucester have lost two of their last three games in all competitions, and have won just two of their last six Premiership away games.
Head Coach Redpath is expecting the toughest of tests at Welford and believes the hosts do not get enough recognition for their ball play.
Redpath told Gloucester's official website. "Leicester play more rugby than people in the past have given them credit for. But they obviously rely on their scrum power and are very efficient on that front.
"But they've got some good ball players too: just look at Flood and Youngs. If you give them space they will exploit it."
"We must focus on ourselves a bit more and understand that we have a big say in what happens in attack and defence. Some parts of it are just hard work and we have to help ourselves defensively.
"Defensively we were poor last weekend. We defended as individuals and we must get back to defending as a team, and helping inside and outside shoulders. It's a real challenge, because Leicester generally score tries at Welford Road."
Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Ben Woods, 6 Tom Croft (c), 5 George Skivington, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Rob Hawkins, 1 Boris Stankovich
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Julian White, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jordan Crane, 20 Craig Newby, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Matt Smith
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Brett Deacon (capt), 7 Andy Hazell, 6 Matt Cox, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Will James, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Alasdair Dickinson
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Alex Brown, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Rory Lawson, 22 Tim Taylor, 23 Tim Molenaar