Leicester v Leeds (Sat)

[An Tarbh]

<div align="center">Leicester v Leeds (Sat)

</div>
Date: Saturday, 1 March
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Venue: Welford Road
Coverage: Listen live on the BBC Sport website, and live on BBC Radio Leicester, DAB.

Harry Ellis and Alesana Tuilagi return from long-term injuries to take places on the Leicester Tigers bench while Julian White is back from suspension.

Ireland's Geordan Murphy and England's Tom Croft return from Six Nations duty.

Leeds have made seven changes to their side with Alberto Di Bernardo coming in for James Brooks in the back line.

In the forwards Rob Rawlinson, Pablo Bouza, Erik Lund, Kearnan Myall, Hendre Fourie, Adam Balding all take their places in the Leeds pack.

Leicester: Geordan Murphy, Tom Varndell, Dan Hipkiss, Ollie Smith, Johne Murphy, Ian Humphreys, Frank Murphy, Boris Stankovich, Mefin Davies, Julian White, Louis Deacon (capt), Tom Croft, Brett Deacon, Ben Herring, Jordan Crane.
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Martin Castrogiovanni Martin Corry, Ben Pienaar, Harry Ellis, Andy Goode, Alesana Tuilagi.

Leeds: Leigh Hinton, John Holtby, Jonny Hepworth, Andy Tuilagi, Apo Satala, Alberto Di Bernardo, Joe Bedford (capt), Mike MacDonald, Rob Rawlinson, Fosi Pala'amo, Erik Lund, Pablo Bouza, Kearnan Myall, Hendre Fourie, Adam Balding.
Replacements: Adam Hopcroft, Vili Ma'asi, Danny Paul, Mark Lock, James Brooks, Lee Blackett, Rob Vickerman.

From: BBC Sport

 

[Vambo]

Cricket score?

 

[Vambo]

Leeds off to a flyer with a try in the first minute

The Tigers have posted a couple of their own though to take the upper hand.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div align="center">Leicester 34-21 Leeds</div>

Leicester (15) 34
Try:Crane, Varndell, Penalty, J Murphy, Humphreys
Pens: Humphreys
Cons: Humphreys (3)

Leeds (13) 21
Try: Pala'amo, Hepworth
Pens: Di Bernardo (2)
Cons: Di Bernardo
Drops: Di Bernardo

Harry Ellis returned from 10 months out injured as Leicester came back from conceding a first-minute try to see off bottom side Leeds.

Fosi Pala'amo opened the scoring and Alberto di Bernardo's drop goal made it 13-0 before Jordan Crane and Tom Varndell put the home side in the game.

A penalty try and one by Johne Murphy put Leicester clear before Ian Humphreys scored the try of the day.

Jonny Hepworth's last-minute try for Leeds was scant consolation for losing.

From: BBC Sport

 

[Vambo]

Good to see Ellis coming back from his injury

 

[Bullitt]

It really isn't... The NRFU will give him an automatic shoe-in to the England team now, cocking up any progress the may make.

On the plus side, everyone will have an easier time against Leicester from now on in.

 

[Vambo]

It really isn't... The NRFU will give him an automatic shoe-in to the England team now, cocking up any progress the may make.

On the plus side, everyone will have an easier time against Leicester from now on in.
[/b]

Ah well... I rate Ellis and it would be good to see him and hopefully Care battling it out for the number 9 shirt for England although Ellis has to prove himself with the Tigers first.
I used to enjoy watching his battles with Dawson...

 

[Bullitt]

What battles with Dawson? MD was dropped to 2nd choice because he couldn't attend training sessions due to BBC commitments, so Ellis was seen as the "great hope". Then cocked upp every performance until the 60th minute when Dawson would come on and suddenly England became competitive.

The real battle for the England shirt should be fought out between Care, Wigglesworth, Foden & (Paul) Hodgson.

Ellis will only get a game because of the old boys network running things at HQ (i.e. Jobs for the Boys)... The exact same reason Jonny "over-rated" Wilkinson gets starts ahead of Lamb, Geherety, Flood, Cipriani and Hodgson.

 

[Vambo]

er... I mean't the bit of needle between Ellis and Dawson when they played against each other at club level.