Leicester bank on international stars
Leicester have named seven internationals in their starting team to face the Springbok XV at Welford Road on Friday.
Former All Blacks Scott Hamilton and Aaron Mauger – who will also lead the side – anchor the inexperienced backline, while Lote Tuqiri is on the bench. Argentina winger Lucas Amorosino also starts.
Coach Richard Cockerill has selected the same forward pack that started against Northampton and shunted the Saints’ heavies metres back at a time, especially at the scrum. An all international front-row of Marcos Ayerza, Mefin Davies and Martin Castrogiovanni have been included, while Martin Johnson has released England lock Ben Kay.
Former Grey Bloem schoolboy and then England U17 captain Ben Pienaar starts on the flank, while England hooker George Chuter is in the 22.
Richard Blaze, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood, Geordan Murphy, Billy Twelvetrees, Sam Vesty and Ben Woods are ruled out by injury, while Anthony Allen and Jeremy Staunton have been rested. Leicester players Louis Deacon, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody, Jordan Crane, and Dan Hikpiss are in the England team to play Australia on Saturday.
Leicester – 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Lucas Amorosino, 13 Andy Forsyth, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Aaron Mauger (c), 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Brett Deacon, 7 Ben Pienaar, 6 Geoff Parling, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Calum Green, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Mefin Davies,1 Marcos Ayerza.
Subs: 16 George Chuter, 17 Dan Cole, 18 Tom Armes, 19 Dan Hemingway, 20 James Grindal, 21 Greig Tonks, 22 Lote Tuqiri.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
#49 Wezwp: SuperSport 1 – 9.45pm tomorrow night.
#50 Wezwp: You think so? They have not had much time together. So hoping they can pull of a win. Some really good players in our Dirt Tracker side, only question is have they gelled in 4 days of training? Also what are the conditions like there? Rain or dry?
November 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
#51 Puma: of meant off
November 5th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
#47 Puma:
The selection policy in today’s SA from CC to Test level is such that the young one are ready to listen, they rather go to be rugby pros elsewhere than to attend a university here.
I spotted 5 new, unknown names this season alone in the UK and France’s rugby teams, 2 Afrikaans new playes in Air NZ cup and I am sure there are few in Aus.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Damn Groot Constantia was busy today. You guys should in box me if you interested in cellar tours.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
#48 Puma:
Dyesel is a blind side, he looks to take over from the colossal Juan Smith eventually, I don’t see WP’s Vermulen and BB’s Potgieter as a test level competitors to Dyesel, but he needs a longer rest from his bad injury.
And he is a transvaaler too!
November 5th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I think its going to be tough tomorrow night but i believe the Boks just got enough fuel in the tank. The Irish are The team to watch out for on this tour. I also believe The all blacks wont have it all their way against The welsh.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
#53 Hondo: Our genes are everywhere then
Those kiwis wont have to scout the PI anymore for big players. Serious though many, many Afrikaans families have gone to live in NZ and their children will carry the good genes. They will produce suddenly huge big forwards in a few years time just like us through our genes.. 
Then to leave after high school is just a massive, massive lose. We need to keep those youngsters here.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
#57 Puma: lose = loss
November 5th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
#53 Hondo:
Are you sure they’re not the children of people who’ve already emigrated?
November 5th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
#55 Hondo: I know he came from the Lions. They missed out big time. Kept him on the bench all the time.
Hondo where do you live now? In the UK?
November 5th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I do hope Heinke gets at least 40 minutes tomorrow….if the gamble pays off it could be a huge blessing for SA Rugby.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
#55 Hondo: Hondo think Deysel is well over that injury now. He took a long lay off in the S14 then we only maganaged it to the Semi in the CC. So he has had another lay off. After these two games that he will play in then he is back home and think he will have another rest before start training for the S14 for next year.
Unless they keep him there to cover for the tests. Which they may or may not do.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
meant – managed
November 5th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Hey Grant , looking forward to tomorrow night? These end of year tours bring back many memories. Always this time of The year The family will get together in The name of rugby. Rip uncle Keith Lentoor.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
#61 grant10: Hi Grant, I hope it comes off. Just think with not playing any rugby at all since April it will be a huge ask of him. Especially in a new postion too.
I would have taken the Cheetah Player. Nel instead. Bring Heinke slowly into that position in S14.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Back later. Going to watch Boots now.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
watch out boytjies, might be wet and heavy!
November 5th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
No less than five Leicester first choice players have been named in the England team to play against Australia in the first Autumn International of the season at Twickenham on Saturday. They include the entire regular Tigers back row of Tom Croft, Lewis Moody and Jordan Crane. Also absent because they are on England duty is lock Louis Deacon and centre Dan Hipkiss.
In addition, several top Leicester players are injured, including Richard Blaze, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood, Geordan Murphy, Billy Twelvetrees, Sam Vesty and Ben Woods. They are joined on the sidelines by Anthony Allen and Jeremy Staunton, who are being rested after playing in all nine matches played by Leicester this season.
This game is just a pure propaganda for transformation bla bla bla bla
November 5th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Tomorrow, Guthro mets his gat!
November 5th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
our mix n match team against their mix n match team so who gets taken to the slaughter?
I reckon tomorrow night we find out what Nh rugby is about no more easy picking’s, that big PI center gonna plow through our mid field and Rose at back aint gonna stop that run away loco once it got a head of steam up.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
#44 Hondo: they play them into the ground up here, that’s why we have so many injuries. Leicester Tigers for example, have 19 players injured.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Can’t wait to see Earl silence his critics with huge tackles on Tuqiri and darting runs past Mauger et al !
Bokke ! Rose !
November 5th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
#57 Puma:
It’s inevitable
I do believe most left SA after High School, the PIs controlling rugby at the grass root level in NZ, most responsible parents will not send their kids to play against them, it’s a growing issue in NZ to judge by reading the press there
SA will grow now into a rugby nursary to supply England, France, NZ and Aus with 18 years old rugby players who has the potential, they are strong, big, and hungry and played rugby since childhood.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
#72 rugbygenius:
So do I!!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
#71 Big Hit:
I know that!
The injuries rate in the UK this season is phenomenal, Ire and France too
That’s what I am implying: sending those quata guys against the hard tackle premier league rugby team like Leichester is irresponsible
November 5th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
#68 pepinillo:
But still a risk because the Leichester’s 2nd and Reserve teams’ players hit hard too on the slow, soft underfoot pitch and there’s no where to run for Rose, De Jungh and the other whiff size ’springboks’
November 6th, 2009 at 8:14 am
strong team this