By Mike Hill
April 25 2002

Tigers face Llanelli and their biggest challenge of the season on Sunday. They have each named full strength teams and with the series so far yielding one win apiece it is bound to be a close encounter.

Neither team have managed a try so far which is testament to two outstanding defences. With so many internationals on display it is virtually England v Wales - but with a lot more intensity!

The tie at Welford Road was a very close affair ending 12-9 to the home team whilst at Stradey Park Llanelli dominated the Tigers with Stephen Jones kicking 24 points to Andy Goode's 12. Leicester were very off colour that day and were simply not allowed to play their normal game. The return of Tim Stimpson who missed the Welsh leg should strengthen the Tigers. Let's hope he can continue his recent excellent kicking form.

All England Eight must perform

It is in the pack that Tigers need to improve and drastically, particularly the line out and restarts. An all England international eight has been selected to start the game and they must perform if Leicester are to make the final on May 25th. There are in fact only two players in the starting line up for Tigers that haven't played at full level for England the two 19 year olds Ollie Smith and Harry Ellis.

That must surely be only a matter of time for these prodigiously talented players. Ollie certainly deserves the outside centre spot ahead of Leon after a consistently excellent season, whilst Harry is improving with every game and needs a chance to test himself at a higher level.

Have no doubt that Sundays game at the City Ground in front of a 29,000 sell out crowd will be an enormously physical encounter- what odds on Johnson being first in the bin? It is how the respective teams cope with the pressure and how they keep their discipline that will decide the outcome.

Both teams have kickers with the ability to punish every indiscretion even from inside their own half. With David McHugh as referee there is bound to be plenty of three pointers on offer. Tigers have given away far too many penalties recently and must stamp this out if they are to progress to Cardiff.

It looks like being a fantastic occasion and I'm sure the Welsh will be singing their hearts out. Let's see if we can match them for noise if not variation of song!

See you in Nottingham.

Tigers:

15 Tim Stimpson, 14 Geordan Murphy, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Rod Kafer, 11 Freddie Tuilagi, 10 Austin Healey, 9 Harry Ellis
1 Graham Rowntree, 2 Dorian West, 3 Darren Garforth, 4 Martin Johnson (capt), 5 Ben Kay, 6 Lewis Moody, 7 Neil Back, 8 Martin Corry

Replacements:
16 Perry Freshwater, 17 Richard Cockerill, 18 Louis Deacon, 19 Adam Balding, 20 Jamie Hamilton, 21 Leon Lloyd, 22 Andy Goode

Llanelli:

15 Garan Evans, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Neil Boobyer, 12 Leigh Davies, 11 Salesi Finau, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Guy Easterby
1 Martyn Madden, 2 Robin McBryde 3 John Davies, 4 Vernon Cooper, 5 Chris Wyatt, 6 David Hodges, 7 Simon Easterby, 8 Scott Quinnell (capt)

Replacements:
16 Phil Booth, 17 Marcus Thomas, 18 Luke Gross, 19 Ian Boobyer, 20 Dwayne Peel, 21 Gareth Bowen, 22 Wayne Proctor