Tigers aim to end on a high

Published: Friday, 20. January, 2012 in category Leicester
Twelvetrees: Comes into side

The two-time former champions, who suffered their heaviest ever defeat in the competition when they they lost 41-7 to Ulster last week, can still make the play-off stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup if other results go their way this weekend.

But in what is essentially a 'dead rubber' at Welford Road (kick-off 3.40pm), scrum-half Micky Young makes his first starting appearance for the Tigers.

Young, a member of the England Elite Saxons squad this season, gains a starting role alongside Jeremy Staunton at half-back after six previous appearances as a replacement since his arrival at the start of the campaign.

Billy Twelvetrees joins Anthony Allen in midfield for the final game in Pool Four, while captain Geordan Murphy extends his club record of European appearances with his 73rd game in Heineken Cup action.

Leicester's director of rugby Richard Cockerill makes changes in the forward pack, with George Chuter, Ed Slater, George Skivington and Ben Woods returning to the team.

England international Dan Cole and fly-half George Ford are named among the replacements, with Academy product Jimmy Stevens selected as the back-up hooker.

Aironi have been the whipping boys in the pool and are yet to register a win or any points for the season.

They suffered a humiliating 82-0 defeat to Clermont-Auvergne last week.

Coach Franco Smith has made seven changes to his starting XV with Alberto Benettin (full-back), Gabriel Pizarro (inside centre) and Giovanbattista Venditti (left wing) replacing Andrea Masi, Alberto Benettin and Sinoti Sinoti respectively in the back-line.

Amongst the forwards, there are four changes. Flanker Simone Favaro comes in for Nicola Cattina while there is a new front row, with hooker Roberto Santamaria and props Fabio Staibano and Alberto de Marchi taking over from Tommaso D'Apice, Lorenzo Romano and Salvatore Perugini.

Group leaders Ulster visit Clermont Auvergne on Saturday knowing that victory or a draw would see them win Pool Four.

Leicester: G Murphy, Agulla, Twelvetrees, A Allen, Tuilagi, Staunton, Young, Waldrom, Woods, Croft, Skivington, Slater, Castrogiovanni, Chuter, Ayerza.

Replacements: Stevens, Stankovich, Cole, Kitchener, Mafi, Harrison, Ford, Hamilton.

Aironi: Benettin, Toniolatti, Quartaroli, Pizarro, Venditti, Olivier, Tebaldi, Sole, Favaro, Bergamasco, Bortolami, Geldenhuys, Staibano, Santamaria, de Marchi.

Replacements: D'Apice, Perugini, Romano, del Fava, Ferrarini, Bronzini, Pavan, Pratichetti.