Gloucester have led the league for 21 of the 22 rounds and have finished the league stages as leaders for the second consecutive year. Will this finally be their year?
London Wasps have been the form side in the league, winning nine of their last ten league matches. Will the masters of the late run nip in and steal the title again?
Bath Rugby have returned to the summit of the English game after a couple of years in the doldrums, playing an exhilarating off-loading game. Will the trophy bear the name of the aristocrats of the English game?
Leicester Tigers looked like missing out on qualification, until their famed big match temperament saw them through at the death. Will the biggest team in the league fight their way to the top again?
Last weekend, the Guinness Premiership lived up to its title as the world's most competitive league when qualification for the semi-final came right down to the wire.
One point was all that separated Leicester Tigers from Sale Sharks in fourth place and that was claimed just three minutes from the end of a 1,760 minute season for both clubs.
This weekend, four of the brightest stars in the Guinness Premiership this season will go head-to-head, with a place at Twickenham on 31st May at stake.
London Wasps will start their match against Bath Rugby as slight favourites following their win over Leeds Carnegie that saw them steal second place from their opponents on the last day of the season.
Central to Wasps' success has been England fly-half Danny Cipriani, nominated this week for both the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season and the Land Rover Discovery of the Season awards.
Cipriani was named in Martin Johnson's first England squad on Tuesday and looks likely to keep his place for the tests in New Zealand. Playing outside him in that first test could be his opponent on Sunday, Bath Rugby's Olly Barkley.
Barkley also celebrated this week by being nominated for the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season award. Barkley has put issues off the pitch firmly to one side and been one of Bath's most consistent players this season, no mean feat when you consider the other form players in Steve Meehan's side.
Despite playing most of his matches at inside-centre, Barkley has epitomised the modern interpretation of the role, able to act as play maker or capable of making breaks himself.
The statistics show the players fairly level in terms of metres made, but Barkley averages nearly 40 metres per match to Cipriani's 31. Barkley also leads Cipriani on defenders beaten with 35 defenders beaten at an average of two per match to Cipriani's 21 at an average of one per match.
However, Cipriani is well ahead of Barkley in the scoring stakes, with six tries and a total of 188 points. Cipriani also leads the league in terms of assists, having set up 11 tries in his 20 Guinness Premiership matches to date.
Later on Sunday afternoon, two of the best finishers in the business will go head-to-head as Gloucester Rugby's James Simpson-Daniel faces Leicester Tigers' Tom Varndell.
Simpson-Daniel was another nominated for the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season Award this week after finishing the regular season as Gloucester's equal top try scorer, with the third best tally in the league.
In addition, his try towards the end of the first half in the Bath match has been nominated for the MBNA Try of the Season Award. However, a long-standing shoulder injury has kept Simpson-Daniel out of the reckoning for England selection.
Tom Varndell will tour with the Saxons in the summer, but finished the season as the league's top scorer, the second time he has achieved this feat in three seasons. Varndell is a former winner of the Land Rover Discovery of the Season Award, having won it in season 2005/6.
Leicester Tigers found themselves three minutes away from finishing sixth before the reliable Varndell touched down at Welford Road against Harlequins.
It was one of two tries Varndell scored in the match, taking his tally to 13 for the season, four ahead of Simpson-Daniel.
However, the statistics show that Simpson-Daniel makes more metres and more breaks per match than his semi-final rival.
Simpson-Daniel makes just shy of a staggering 50 metres per match, with one and a half clean breaks per match and beating nearly two defenders per match.
In comparison, Varndell averages 35 metres per match and roughly one clean break and defender beaten per match.
Both semi-finals are on Sunday 18th May, with London Wasps kicking off first against Bath Rugby at 2pm at Adams Park. Gloucester Rugby versus Leicester Tigers starts at Kingsholm at 4.30pm.
The winners will meet at the Guinness Premiership Final on Saturday 31st May. Ticket sales are already running over 55,000 with up to 20,000 tickets being made available for the finalists, meaning tickets remaining for neutrals are now in very short supply.
SEMI-FINAL PREVIEWS
Sunday 18th May
London Wasps v Bath Rugby (Adams Park, 2pm) Live on Sky Sports.
Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers (Kingsholm, 4.30pm) Live on Sky Sports
London Wasps v Bath Rugby
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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L
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B
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London Wasps scorers
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Bath Rugby scorers
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Sun 20 Nov 05
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Adams Park
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28
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20
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Neil Baxter(2T) Tom Voyce(T) Jeremy Staunton(C/2P) Alex King(C/P)
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Michael Lipman(T) Chris Malone(D/4P)
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Sat 28 Jan 06
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Recreation Ground
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16
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28
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Ayoola Erinle(T) Alex King(C/2P) Jeremy Staunton(P)
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Duncan Bell(T) Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu(T) Chris Malone(T/2C/3P)
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Sun 12 Nov 06
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Adams Park
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47
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18
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Danny Cipriani(T) Fraser Waters(T) Edd Thrower(4T) Dave Walder(2C/P) Mark Van Gisbergen(T/C/P)
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Michael Stephenson(T) Chris Malone(C/2P) James Scaysbrook(T)
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Mon 1 Jan 07
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Recreation Ground
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19
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30
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Dave Walder(C/4P) Penalty Try(T)
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Olly Barkley(C) Shaun Berne(T) Joe Maddock(2T) Chris Malone(2C/3P)
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Sat 29 Dec 07
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Adams Park
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25
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10
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Danny Cipriani(2C/2P) Paul Sackey(2T) Rob Webber(T)
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Olly Barkley(C/P) Joe Maddock(T)
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Sat 16 Feb 08
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Recreation Ground
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42
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34
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Danny Cipriani(T/4C/3P) James Haskell(T) Josh Lewsey(2T) Dan Leo(T)
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Nick Abendanon(T) Daniel Browne(T) Olly Barkley(4C/2P) Andrew Higgins(T) Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu(T)
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London Wasps’ only defeat in the Guinness Premiership since the end of January was 17-25 at home to Gloucester on 4 May. Wasps have suffered only one other defeat at Adams Park this season: 17-20 to Leicester on 30 September. The Londoners lost their last Premiership semi-final 12-22 at Sale Sharks in May 2006.
Bath Rugby have made it to the playoffs for the first time since they topped the league table in season 2003/04. Bath’s 6-8 defeat at Gloucester ended a five game winning run in all competitions. Bath have won just one of their last four away encounters in the Guinness Premiership: 23-20 at Worcester on 19 April.
London Wasps achieved a Guinness Premiership regular season double over Bath this season for the first time since 2001/02. Bath have lost on their last three visits to Adams Park, since a 12-9 victory in the Premiership on 29 January 2005.
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS IN 2007/08
29 DECEMBER 2007
LONDON WASPS (20) 25, BATH RUGBY (0) 10 (Adams Park)
London Wasps: Josh Lewsey; Paul Sackey(2T), Fraser Waters, Riki Flutey, Tom Voyce; Danny Cipriani(2C, 2PG), Eoin Reddan; Tom French, Joe Ward, Phil Vickery; Simon Shaw, George Skivington; Dan Leo, Rob Webber(1T), Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: James Buckland, Michael Holford, Tom Palmer, Richard Birkett, Mark McMillan, Dominic Waldouck, Mark Van Gisbergen.
Replacements used: Holford for Vickery 18, Van Gisbergen for Voyce 48, Palmer for Shaw 54, Birkett for Leo 55, McMillan for Reddan 61, Buckland for Ward 61, Waldouck for Cipriani 76.
Bath Rugby: Nick Abendanon; Joe Maddock(1T), Tom Cheeseman, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Michael Stephenson; Shaun Berne (capt), Nick Walshe; David Barnes, Pieter Dixon, Lorne Ward; Martin Purdy, Danny Grewcock (sin bin 35-46); Peter Short, James Scaysbrook, Jonny Fa'amatuainu.
Bench: Rob Hawkins, Paulica Ion, Steve Borthwick, Chris Goodman, Zak Feau'nati, Mike Baxter, Olly Barkley(1C, 1PG).
Replacements used: Barkley for Cheeseman 8, Borthwick for Purdy 34, Ion for Ward 41, Goodman for Short 57, Feau'nati for Scaysbrook 63, Hawkins for Dixon 63, Baxter for Walshe 76.
Scoring sequence: 2' Cipriani (PG) 3-0, 4' Webber (T) 8-0, Cipriani (C) 10-0, 24' Sackey (T) 15-0, Cipriani (C) 17-0, 37' Cipriani (PG) 20-0, 46' Barkley (PG) 20-3, 52' Sackey (T) 25-3, 70' Maddock (T) 25-8, Barkley (C) 25-10.
Referee: Rob Debney (England)
Attendance: 10000.
16 FEBRUARY 2008
BATH RUGBY (20) 34, LONDON WASPS (13) 42 (Recreation Ground)
Bath Rugby: Nick Abendanon(1T); Joe Maddock, Alex Crockett (capt), Olly Barkley(4C, 2PG), Andrew Higgins(1T); Shaun Berne, Michael Claassens; David Barnes, Lee Mears, Matt Stevens; Peter Short, Danny Grewcock; Andy Beattie, Michael Lipman, Zak Feau'nati.
Bench: Pieter Dixon, Aaron Jarvis, Daniel Browne(1T), Jonny Fa'amatuainu, Mike Baxter, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu(1T), Matthew Banahan.
Replacements used: Banahan for Maddock 54, Fa'amatuainu for Beattie 54, Browne for Feau'nati 54, Dixon for Mears 59, Fuimaono-Sapolu for Berne 60, Jarvis for Stevens 77.
London Wasps: Josh Lewsey(2T); Rob Hoadley, Fraser Waters, Dominic Waldouck, David Doherty; Danny Cipriani(1T, 4C, 3PG), Mark McMillan; Tim Payne, Joe Ward, Phil Vickery; Simon Shaw, Tom Palmer; James Haskell(1T), Joe Worsley, John Hart (capt).
Bench: James Buckland, Nick Adams, Dan Leo(1T), Rob Webber, Eoin Reddan, Dave Walder, Mark Van Gisbergen.
Replacements used: Van Gisbergen for Hoadley 20, Leo for Shaw 56, Buckland for Ward 66, Webber for Worsley 69, Reddan for McMillan 69, Adams for Vickery 76, Walder for Cipriani 78.
Scoring sequence: 3' Barkley (PG) 3-0, 6' Higgins (T) 8-0, Barkley (C) 10-0, 10' Cipriani (PG) 10-3, 16' Cipriani (T) 10-8, Cipriani (C) 10-10, 28' Barkley (PG) 13-10, 31' Cipriani (PG) 13-13, 40' Abendanon (T) 18-13, Barkley (C) 20-13, 42' Haskell (T) 20-18, Cipriani (C) 20-20, 48' Lewsey (T) 20-25, 50' Cipriani (PG) 20-28, 56' Lewsey (T) 20-33, Cipriani (C) 20-35, 68' Fuimaono-Sapolu (T) 25-35, Barkley (C) 27-35, 73' Leo (T) 27-40, Cipriani (C) 27-42, 78' Browne (T) 32-42, Barkley (C) 34-42.
Referee: Rob Debney (England)
Attendance: 10600.
Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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G
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L
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Gloucester Rugby scorers
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Leicester Tigers scorers
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Fri 10 Feb 06
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Kingsholm
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34
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16
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James Bailey(T) Penalty Try(T) Mark Foster(T) Ludovic Mercier(2C/5P)
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Will Johnson(T) Ephraim Taukafa(T) Ian Humphreys(2P)
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Sat 16 Sep 06
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Welford Road
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27
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27
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James Forrester(T) Anthony Allen(T) Willie Walker(C/2D/2P) Brad Davies(P)
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Dan Hipkiss(T) Seru Rabeni(T) Andy Goode(C/5P)
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Sun 11 Mar 07
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Kingsholm
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28
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24
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Andy Hazell(T) Peter Richards(T) Willie Walker(6P)
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Ian Humphreys(2C) Geordan Murphy(T) Alesana Tuilagi(2T) Tom Varndell(T)
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Sat 12 May 07
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Twickenham (Final)
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16
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44
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Willie Walker(C/3P) Ryan Lamb(T)
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Martin Corry(T) Andy Goode(T/3C/P) Shane Jennings(T) Lewis Moody(T) Alesana Tuilagi(2T) Frank Murphy(T)
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Sat 6 Oct 07
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Welford Road
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30
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17
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Leon Lloyd(T) Willie Walker(T/3C/3P) Penalty Try(T)
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Matt Cornwell(T) Tom Croft(T) Paul Burke(2C) Andy Goode(P)
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Sat 9 Feb 08
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Kingsholm
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13
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20
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Olivier Azam(T) Willie Walker(C/2P)
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Ayoola Erinle(T) Andy Goode(2C/2P) Ollie Smith(T)
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Gloucester Rugby topped the Guinness Premiership table for the 3rd time in the past six seasons and are also the best home side in the competition. The only team to defeat Gloucester in the Premiership at Kingsholm this season was today’s opponents Leicester on 9 February. Gloucester have won six of their last seven semi-final matches in all competitions.
Leicester Tigers have reached the playoffs for the 4th successive season, but have lost their last four away matches in the Guinness Premiership since winning at Kingsholm in February. The Tigers have won their last five semi-final encounters in all competitions.
The two contenders from last season’s Guinness Premiership final at Twickenham have clashed twice in the Premiership this season with each winning a game on opposing soil.
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS IN 2007/08
6 OCTOBER 2007
LEICESTER TIGERS (3) 17, GLOUCESTER RUGBY (20) 30 (Welford Road)
Leicester Tigers: Geordan Murphy; Johne Murphy, Ollie Smith, Matt Cornwell(1T), Tom Varndell; Andy Goode(1PG), Frank Murphy; Alex Moreno, Benjamin Kayser, Julian White; Louis Deacon (capt), Marco Wentzel; Brett Deacon, Luke Abraham, Jordan Crane.
Bench: Mefin Davies, Martin Castrogiovanni, Richard Blaze, Tom Croft(1T), Ben Youngs, Paul Burke(2C), Ayoola Erinle.
Replacements used: Burke for Goode 41, Castrogiovanni for Moreno 41, Erinle for Smith 56, Croft for B.Deacon 58, Davies for Kayser 61, B.Youngs for F.Murphy 66.
Gloucester Rugby: Olly Morgan; Leon Lloyd(1T), Mike Tindall, Anthony Allen, James Bailey; Willie Walker(1T, 3C, 3PG), Mike Prendergast; Patrice Collazo, Olivier Azam, Carlos Nieto; Peter Buxton (capt), Alex Brown; Alasdair Strokosch, Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway.
Bench: Andy Titterrell, Christian Califano, Nick Wood, Will James, Gareth Cooper, Ryan Lamb, Mark Foster. Penalty Try:1.
Replacements used: W.James for Hazell 33, Cooper for Prendergast 51, Wood for Collazo 56, Foster for Allen 60, Titterrell for Azam 71, Califano for Nieto 76.
Scoring sequence: 4' Lloyd (T) 0-5, Walker (C) 0-7, 14' Goode (PG) 3-7, 18' Walker (PG) 3-10, 23' Penalty Try (T) 3-15, Walker (C) 3-17, 32' Walker (PG) 3-20, 50' Walker (PG) 3-23, 70' Croft (T) 8-23, Burke (C) 10-23, 73' Walker (T) 10-28, Walker (C) 10-30, 79' Cornwell (T) 15-30, Burke (C) 17-30.
Referee: Roy Maybank (England)
Attendance: 17101.
9 FEBRUARY 2008
GLOUCESTER RUGBY (3) 13, LEICESTER TIGERS (7) 20 (Kingsholm)
Gloucester Rugby: James Bailey; James Simpson-Daniel, Jack Adams, Anthony Allen, Mark Foster; Willie Walker(1C, 2PG), Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Olivier Azam(1T), Jack Forster; Peter Buxton (capt), Will James (sin bin 37); Alasdair Strokosch, Andy Hazell, Adam Balding.
Bench: Jeremy Paul, Alasdair Dickinson, Jonathan Pendlebury, Andy Titterrell, Gareth Cooper, Ali James (sin bin -47), Charlie Sharples.
Replacements used: Cooper for Lawson 54, Paul for Azam 56, Pendlebury for Balding 66, Dickinson for Forster 73, James for Adams 73.
Leicester Tigers: Johne Murphy; Tom Varndell, Ayoola Erinle(1T), Aaron Mauger, Ollie Smith(1T); Andy Goode(2C, 2PG), Christophe Laussucq; Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter, Alex Moreno; Tom Croft, Marco Wentzel; Martin Corry (capt), Ben Herring (sin bin 37-47) (sent off 79), Jordan Crane.
Bench: Benjamin Kayser, David Young, Greg Gillanders, Brett Deacon, Frank Murphy, Ian Humphreys, Sam Vesty.
Replacements used: B.Deacon for Wentzel 12, Kayser for Chuter 56.
Scoring sequence: 34' O.Smith (T) 0-5, Goode (C) 0-7, 40' Walker (PG) 3-7, 48' Azam (T) 8-7, Walker (C) 10-7, 54' Goode (PG) 10-10, 62' Walker (PG) 13-10, 65' Goode (PG) 13-13, 67' Erinle (T) 13-18, Goode (C) 13-20.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Attendance: 12597
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