EDF Energy Cup - : Internationals return for Tigers

Martin Corry returns to skipper Tigers

Internationals return for Tigers

2 November 2007, 11:59 am

By Jonathan McConnell

Leicester Tigers welcome back World Cup finalists Martin Corry, Ben Kay, Lewis Moody and Dan Hipkiss, plus Seru Rabeni and Alesana Tuilagi, for Saturday's EDF Energy Cup clash with Cardiff Blues at Welford Road.

Acting head coach Richard Cockerill has all of his World Cup players involved for the first time, with the exception of England hooker George Chuter who has a knee injury. The matchday 22 includes 10 players who saw international action at the World Cup.

"It's great to have everyone back," said Cockerill. "We have been missing 13 senior international players with the World Cup and the injury to Harry Ellis as well as an experienced head coach, but under those circumstances we have still had a good start to the season. The players here have done a great job.

"Now we are in another important phase of the season and there is a real buzz around the place."

Corry returns to captain the team he led to three major finals last season. He is named at blindside flanker, the position where he finished the World Cup with England, with Moody on the openside and Jordan Crane at No.8.

Marcos Ayerza starts his first club game of the season and is joined by Benjamin Kayser and Julian White, who returns from injury, in the front row. Louis Deacon and Ben Kay complete the forward pack.

Frank Murphy and Andy Goode team up at half-back, with Rabeni and Hipkiss at centre. Tuilagi and Tom Varndell, who both scored tries in the EDF Energy Cup Final win over the Ospreys last season, are named on the wings, with Geordan Murphy at full-back.

Ollie Smith (hamstring), Sam Vesty (knee) and Brett Deacon (neck)are kept out by injury, while the return of the World Cup contingent allows Cockerill an opportunity for squad rotation. Marco Wentzel, for instance, is rested after starting the first seven games of the campaign.

"We have had a good week and now it is about getting those combinations in the team working together," said Cockerill. "It would be a massive boost to us to have a sell-out crowd with all of our big guns back. We're hoping that this weekend, with all the big-name players back, we can give the crowd something to cheer about."

Match tickets are still on sale from the Tigers ticket office, call 08701 28 34 30, go online at www.leicestertigers.com or call in at Welford Road.

Leicester Tigers (vs Cardiff Blues, Welford Road, Saturday 2.30pm)

15 Geordan Murphy
14 Tom Varndell
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Seru Rabeni
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Andy Goode
9 Frank Murphy
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Benjamin Kayser
3 Julian White
4 Louis Deacon
5 Ben Kay
6 Martin Corry (c)
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements

16 Mefin Davies
17 Martin Castrogiovanni
18 James Hamilton
19 Luke Abraham
20 Christophe Laussucq
21 Paul Burke
22 Johne Murphy