Leicester bank on international stars
5 Nov 2009
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.
77 Comments
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5 Nov 2009, 15:01 pm
Dragons
5 Nov 2009, 15:10 pm
This game is ganna be a cracker.
5 Nov 2009, 15:11 pm
BIG HIT….Your opinion here please my man?
5 Nov 2009, 15:15 pm
a decent tigers side but Boks should win
Raubenheimer, De Jongh, Potgieter and pienaar to do well
5 Nov 2009, 15:24 pm
#3 grant10:
Decent front row (Castro/Ayerza good test props)
Ok second row (Kay good, Green a youth player)
Dire back row (two youth players and a lock)
Average half-back combo (Youngs a good prospect, Mauger not a 10)
Young centres (both youth players)
Dodgy back three (Hamilton good but no pace, Amorisino and Murphy error prone)
SA should win comfortably, if they don’t there’s something wrong.
5 Nov 2009, 15:25 pm
I would like to see what this Pienaar from the Tigers can do!
Our forwards will be good but the backs will struggle Rose and the two wingers will cost the boks the game in the end!
5 Nov 2009, 15:25 pm
#4 The_Boss: which Pienaar, theirs or ours?
5 Nov 2009, 15:35 pm
Personally im a little worried about this game, im the biggest supporter of the boks (aside from jan and elton of course), but just because some talented guys throw on that green jersey they dont become invincible.
They need game time together.
not too mention this is the first some of these guys are playing against a NH outfit in the NH.
I expect allot of nerves from our guys brought on by a bit of being overwhelmed by the sell-out crowd and nerves create mistakes which creates a lack of confidence.
The added pressure of being world-champions when not too many of these guys were even close to france in 2007 might not help.
Leicester on the other hand are the under-dogs,so they’ll play with allot of mongrel with everything to gain from a bok scalping, spurred on from the 60/80000 strong crowd, they know the conditions, have home-ground advantage and most of all they know eachother.
The fact that their captain has had a 70% win rate vs the boks would govern his team building talks and they’ll believe they’re capable of pulling off the same feats if he uses his words correctly.
I wish we had 2 or 3 big guns on the bench just in case anothern “Tonga” happens.
(And tonight, before i sleep, i’ll be praying they dont notice the Rosey chink in our armour at full back)!!!!
5 Nov 2009, 15:37 pm
#6 groenie: I agree, our forwards will give as much as they take and hold their own,but i see lots of backline fumbles..
5 Nov 2009, 15:38 pm
Think it will be a easy win Rose or no Rose, think the game might just look Rosy::-):
If Scott Hamilton has no pace Pienaar should chip and chace for Jongi if Hamilton is out of position.
5 Nov 2009, 15:39 pm
How do you do the smile thing?
5 Nov 2009, 15:41 pm
u lift the end of either side of ur mouth try it…chicks dig it
5 Nov 2009, 15:42 pm
#12 BALLER canREADY: HA HA
5 Nov 2009, 15:44 pm
#12 BALLER canREADY: Thanks gonna give my wife a shock tonight showing het my new party trick
5 Nov 2009, 15:44 pm
het *her
the new smile thing
5 Nov 2009, 15:49 pm
Well, I always say this, but wings seldom win you matches. I think despite our average backline, the Bok pack on Friday night is a very good one. I therefore have to think Boks should win without too much hassle.
AS LONG AS WE KICK WELL….
Who will kick for posts – Earl or Ruaan?? I would imagine Ruaan.
5 Nov 2009, 16:05 pm
Luke fans: news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/bath/8343332.stm
quite an orator
5 Nov 2009, 16:06 pm
#8 BALLER canREADY: Hey there Baller
Just to let you know, there cannot be 60 to 80 000 people, cos the new Welford Road Stadium capacity is only 24 000.
So I don’t think the boys will be too overwhelmed by the crowd. Most of them have played at much bigger stadia and in front of much bigger crowds in the Currie Cup competition and the Super 14.
I reckon if they go on there and play their natural game, then there shouldn’t be too much worry about them winning.
I doubt whether even a full strength Leicester team would have been able to beat Griquas’ 2009 CC team. Never mind a team of talent such as the Boks.
Oh yes, another factor that I am reminded of is the Emerging Boks team that played the British & Irish Lions at Newlands this year.
If you remember, the Emerging Boks were the only team outside of the Boks who did not lose to the Lions. And they were not as strong a team as the Bok XV who are playing tomorrow night. After all, there were NO test Boks in that team, and they also only had a few day to prepare.
Nee wat!! I really don’t have much fear for tomorrow night. If anything were gonna worry me, it may have been a bit of complacency on our boys’ part. But even that is something the Bok culture has shaken off.
Enjoy the game!!!
5 Nov 2009, 16:08 pm
Will we be facing Castrogiovanni again in the Italy game? He’s bloody good. Gurthro and Beast have their work cut out.
The other prop is decent too.
5 Nov 2009, 16:09 pm
#17 Big Hit: Quite!
5 Nov 2009, 16:10 pm
#17 Big Hit: You gonna have to transcribe it or sen dit via pigeon BH, you know most of the okes in SA dont have internet speeds capable of streaming
5 Nov 2009, 16:25 pm
#5 Big Hit:
As far as I remember there are 2 Tuilagis. Is this one the good one who runs over everybody?
5 Nov 2009, 16:26 pm
#17 Big Hit: Just confirms why I don’t like the chap. He has such an air of superiority and entitlement about him.
5 Nov 2009, 16:29 pm
After all this morning’s talk about Heinke, it’s gonna be great to see him against a solid front row to get a better idea of how he’ll cope at tighthead. Hope he gets at least 20 mins…
5 Nov 2009, 16:31 pm
#22 Yetirat: it’s the little brother of the other four Tuilagi’s, all of whom are Samoan internationals, I don’t expect his style is much different though
5 Nov 2009, 16:48 pm
#25 Big Hit:
Ohhhh I didn’t realise there were so many of the buggers! Wasn’t one of them actually playing for England on the wing at one stage?
Good thing we have Olivier on defence then to counter him, as he’s proving himself to be pretty solid in that area.
5 Nov 2009, 16:53 pm
#17 Big Hit:
Verg good interview that…..great ambassador for SA rugby!
5 Nov 2009, 17:08 pm
#23 katman: I disagree, I think he is a confident and articulate young man, nothing to be apprehensive about
5 Nov 2009, 17:13 pm
#28 XhosaKid: Not by my standards.
5 Nov 2009, 17:14 pm
#26 Yetirat: that was Lesley Vainikolo, the older Tuilagi’s are all Samoan internationals, however this one has played for England at youth level.
5 Nov 2009, 17:15 pm
It seems the weather forecast has improved for the game, now only “light showers” expected with a maximum of 9 degrees … lovely weather for Leicester really!
5 Nov 2009, 18:44 pm
Is this being streamed live any where on the internet? I don’t see anything on RugbyZone.com.
5 Nov 2009, 19:01 pm
#32 SodaJoe: Not sure Joe, Just pleased we are getting. Was a bit worried that it was just our Dirt Tracker that Supersport may not show it.
We getting it 21.45pm
Think we should win it. Well hoping. Only 4 days of training with these groups of players. Hope that is enough.
5 Nov 2009, 19:04 pm
#33 Puma: Thanks bud. Unfortunately I don’t see any rugby at all from an autumn tour perspective.
Will likely need to watch at a pub downtown.
Worse things to do in life.
5 Nov 2009, 19:05 pm
#33 Puma: If a Springbok team can’t beat a club team there is something seriously wrong with our rugby.
5 Nov 2009, 19:18 pm
#34 SodaJoe: Watch it in the pub Joe, Much better than watching on your pc.
#35 SodaJoe: We should win this but this is not our Bok Side. Great players in that side but they are our Dirt Tracker side thrown together and now only have trained for 4 days. Should win it. Have them to win on SuperBru by 15. Never really knew who was in to the otherside. Now see there is some good players in the Leicester side.
5 Nov 2009, 19:19 pm
#5 Big Hit:
I am surprised that both Giovani and Ayerza were not called up by their respectively test qsuads?
Last time Davies played for Wales he was the back up to McBride, must be long ago, either way this is a strong front row, saw it against Leeds last week, bad news for Chili and Steenkamp: they might be maimed if not be careful,,,
5 Nov 2009, 19:20 pm
#35 SodaJoe: If it was our Test side we could klap them good and proper Joe. Even the Dirt Trackers should just that they have not really had much time to gel together.
5 Nov 2009, 19:21 pm
#23 katman:
At least he doesn’t falsify racial allegations like Rose and Sephaka?
5 Nov 2009, 19:23 pm
#37 Hondo: think Ayerza is called up, Amorisino too but they don’t get released until 5 days before the Eng v Arg test which is on the 14th Nov so they’re available for this game. They play Wales on the 21st and Scotland on the 28th.
5 Nov 2009, 19:31 pm
#38 Puma:
The Leichester’s front row is quality, the rest are a combo of the 2nd and Reserve teams, Hamilton despite his age is their best wing/fullback while Amorosino and Murphy drop more balls than they carry.
5 Nov 2009, 19:35 pm
#41 Hondo: Looking forward to the game. Was not sure who was in their team. Hardly ever follow NH club rugby. Only their internationals I watch.
This is the way to go for Bok rugby in future. Should always have a Dirt Tracker side. Many just never ever get a chance to tour and play. So it is good to be playing one of the clubs over there.
5 Nov 2009, 19:38 pm
#41 Hondo: Our front row in the Dirt Trackers is not that good and we have HVDM that has never played TH before on the bench and also has not played any rugby since April. Well he is on the bench so that is fine. Rate him though but only at LH as that is only where I have seen him play.
Chili not very good in the scrum. So hoping for big things tomorrow night.
Pleased that Deysel is on the bench there too. Hope he gets some game time.
5 Nov 2009, 19:41 pm
#40 Big Hit:
I see
I thought the Argies play earlier, in that case and the event that Julian White is totalled, can’t see the sense of Leic. playing their props Ayerza and Giovani without any rest: both played last 4 weeks solid with a Romanian prop on the bench
5 Nov 2009, 19:47 pm
#42 Puma:
Yes, I agree on that practice, not necessarily on the selection and the opposition’s strength in these mid week games
You better start watching now the NH rugby till next March, between the 3 leagues there and the French one you get at least 3 quality rugby bames every weekend, you’ll spot increased number of young SAFFASs players who never played in SA but moved to Europe after high school
5 Nov 2009, 19:50 pm
#43 Puma:
Dyesel has a great attributes and potential but he needs a long rest.
As long as he performs for the Sharks that all I ask now, they need him match fit badly
5 Nov 2009, 19:53 pm
#45 Hondo: Will do Hondo, Just forget about the games being played up there.
I know there are many saffas playing in the NH and it is a pity we just let our players leave after High School. They will eventually play for England or France or who ever they are playing for now.
Lots of scouts come here during our Craven week. We need to keep our youngsters here. Saw some great talent during the Craven week this year.
5 Nov 2009, 19:57 pm
#46 Hondo: Well he had a long lay off fromt he Sharks in the S14 when he got injured.
Hope he is match fit remember Sharks lost in the Semi of the CC so probably has not had much rugby since then. So another lay off.
Think he must have been very excited to get the call up to go. Feel really pleased for him. Not a nice way to get into the Bok or Boks 2nd side because of another player getting injured, but really pleased it was him they chose to take when Spies got injured. It is long, long over due for him to have got a selection. Now hope he can play and not only just sit on the bench and get no game time.
5 Nov 2009, 19:58 pm
will this game be televised?
5 Nov 2009, 19:59 pm
The dirt trackers are going to be in for a rude awakening
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