Guinness Premiership : Tuilagi to start for Tigers

Alesana Tuilagi - on the wing for Tigers

Tuilagi to start for Tigers

16 May 2008, 12:02 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Leicester Tigers have made one change to their line-up for Sunday's Guinness Premiership semi-final against Gloucester at Kingsholm, with Alesana Tuilagi making his return on the wing.

Samoa international Tuilagi comes in after injury to Johne Murphy, but the other 21 players on duty for the thrilling victory over Harlequins at Welford Road last Saturday keep their places for the trip to face the league leaders.

Head coach Marcelo Loffreda said: "The team showed great resilience and character in the victory last Saturday and I think the players can take a lot of confidence from that.

"I said we were not going to give up while we still had a chance to qualify for the play-offs. Now it is in our own hands again and we have another opportunity.

"Gloucester have had a good season, they have a strong team and they will have a lot of confidence, but now it all depends on what happens in this game."

Leicester Tigers:

15 Geordan Murphy
14 Tom Varndell
13 Danny Hipkiss
12 Aaron Mauger
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Andy Goode

9 Harry Ellis
1 Boris Stankovich
2 Mefin Davies
3 Julian White
4 Marco Wentzel
5 Ben Kay
6 Martin Corry (c)
7 Ben Herring
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Richard Blaze
19 Tom Croft
20 Christophe Laussucq
21 Sam Vesty
22 Ayoola Erinle