Leicester v Bath preview

Published: Friday, 30. November, 2012 in category South Africa
Martin Castrogiovanni: Back for Leicester against Bath

The Tigers are fifth in the Aviva Premiership with 26 points from their opening nine games while Bath are two points behind in seventh position.

Martin Castrogiovanni and Marcos Ayerza return for Leicester, who have won eight of their last night meetings with Bath in league action.

Both props have been on international duty but they return to Tigers colours for the Round 10 fixture against their old rivals.

Thomas Waldrom and Anthony Allen, who are both members of the England Elite Player Squad, are also included in Saturday's starting team.

Bath's internationals Horacio Agulla, Paul James and Francois Louw will be back in action for the West Country side on their away trip.

Agulla takes the outside centre shirt, with Matt Banahan lining up inside him. Having been released by England, Tom Biggs is named on the left wing as Kyle Eastmond continues on the right, and Nick Abendanon starts once again at full-back.

Leicester: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Niall Morris, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 George Ford, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Brett Deacon, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Jonny Harris, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Jordan Crane, 21 Micky Young, 22 Dan Bowden, 23 Geordan Murphy.

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Kyle Eastmond, 13 Horacio Agulla, 12 Matt Banahan, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Stuart Hooper (c), 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Paul James.

Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Kane Palma-Newport, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Josh Ovens, 21 Mark McMillan, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Jack Cuthbert.