At scrum-half for Tigers: Ben Youngs
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Leicester Tigers welcome back Geordan Murphy, Ben Youngs and Julian Salvi for Saturday's Premiership derby against Northampton Saints.
Skipper Murphy has recovered from a knee injury, while Youngs has been released from the England squad after missing last Saturday's match at Gloucester.
Salvi returns to the back row and is joined by Steve Mafi and summer signing Richard Thorpe.
There are calls for Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter and Martin Castrogiovanni in the front row, and George Ford starts at fly-half.
Dan Bowden returns to the matchday squad and back-rower Michael Noone is included among the replacements for the first time.
Meanwhile, Northampton Saints will be lloking to bounce back from home reverse to Saracens seven days ago.
That result saw the Saints slip from the top of the Premiership table, but director of rugby Jim Mallinder believes that there were plenty of good things to take from that performance.
"Of course we want to win, but rugby is also about the way you play and there has been plenty to build on from our previous games," he said.
"We've looked at our past performances and there have been bits where we've played well and bits where we haven't. Of course we've worked on those areas and while it's going to be a massive challenge at Welford Road it's one that we're up for.
"We've got a good side who have had the right attitude in training, and hopefully we'll have the right performance which will lead to the result we want."
Form: Leicester Tigers lost 21-27 at Gloucester on Saturday but have not lost successive Aviva Premiership encounters since October last year. Since September 2011 the Tigers have lost just two games at Welford Road - both to Harlequins. Northampton Saints have slipped to back to back Premiership defeats for the first time since September 2011. Leicester have won their last five fixtures with Northampton in all competitions, whilst the Saints only win at Welford Road since 2003 was 10-9 on 24 February 2007.
The teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Geordan Murphy (c), 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Niall Morris, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Steve Mafi 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Jimmy Stevens, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Michael Noone, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Dan Bowden, 23 Vereniki Goneva.
Northampton Saints: 15 Tom May 14 Ken Pisi 13 George Pisi 12 Dom Waldouck 11 Jamie Elliott 10 Ryan Lamb 9 Martin Roberts 8 GJ Van Velze 7 Phil Dowson (capt) 6 Calum Clark 5 Mark Sorenson 4 Samu Manoa 3 Brian Mujati 2 Mike Haywood 1 Soane Tonga'uiha
Replacements: 16 Ross Mcmillan 17 Alex Waller 18 Paul Doran Jones 19 Ben Nutley 20 Rhys Oakley 21 Alex Day 22 Luther Burrell 23 Vasily Artemyev
Date: Saturday, November 3
Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 14.15 GMT
Referee: Greg Garner
Comments
5Lock4ward says...
Interesting that Manoa claims to be unavailable for the USA due to a "minor shoulder injury" yet is still healthy enough to run out for the Saints. I wonder if he simply has no interest in his international career or if the Saints are treating him like they did Joe Van Niekerk, Euan Murray (when it came time to go to B&I Lions camp) and Cam Shepherd. This is the 3 time he's snubbed his national side since joining the Saints. I'd love to hear from the horses mouth as to why, unless the Saints have the choke chain yanked too tight.
Posted 11:35 03rd November 2012
NHsaints says...
I hope Clark puts his past behind him and sets off on a clean streak, he's got great potential...I really think Leicester have got this one in the bag though, we're fielding a strong side despite alot of significant injuries but it's near impossible to come to Leicester and get a win. @rugby_rockstar Lawes is probably upset (like all of us saints fans) that he won't be getting a run out today. He's a hell of alot better than Deacon though.
Posted 10:24 03rd November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
I think Courtney Lawes is probably a little relieved that he won't be facing Louis Deacon on Saturday. I reckon all English qualified locks ought to take a look at a proper lock forward in action though. They may pick up some pointers.
Posted 15:33 02nd November 2012
sanka69 says...
Will Callum Clark keeps his head for a change - he has a LOT of making up to do!!!
Posted 13:33 02nd November 2012