Tigers on an Italian mission

It's that desperate Pool 1 where three of the world's top clubs are battling to get through to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup. The lone with the easiest task - in theory - is Leicester Tigers.

After all the Wasps, eschewing conversion kicks, got nine against Calvisano last weekend and won themselves five points. The Tigers would like to do the same.
 
They are concerned about the state of the ground as Northern Italy freezes. They have asked the European Rugby Cup to consider alternate venues as the big freeze reaches Brescia and the Campo Comunale di Rovato has no heating.

Beaten at home by Biarritz on Sunday, they now travel to Calvisano in search of tries. When they met at Welford Road in Round 1, the Tigers won 37-6. The whole world would expect them to win again on Saturday - anti-freeze allowing.

They have made changes. Talented Geordan Murphy moves from fullback to left-wing as Sam Vesty goes to fullback. Burly Alesana Tuilagi comes to right wing and speedy Ollie Smith goes to outside centre in the place of Leon Lloyd who has a recurrence of a knee injury.

In the pack Graham Rowntree gets to start and Darren Morris goes to tighthead to give Julian White a bit of a breather. Ben Kay starts again at lock in a massive pairing with Martin Johnson. Will Johnson moves to flank and big Louis Deacon moves from lock to No.8. It is a powerful pack even with Neil Back restless on the bench.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Alesana Tuilagi, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Daryl Gibson, 11 Geordan Murphy, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Louis Deacon, 7 Lewis Moody,   6 Will Johnson, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Martin Johnson (captain), 3 Darren Morris, 2 George Chuter, 1 Graham Rowntree
Replacements: 16 Michael Holford, 17 James Buckland, 18 Julian White, 19 Neil Back, 20 Luke Abraham, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Austin Healey,

Calvisano: tbc

Date: Saturday, 15 January 2005
Kick-off: 16.00
Venue: Campo Comunale di Rovato
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 7°C  dropping to -2°C and a breeze freshening from 3 km/h  to 10 km/h
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)
Touch judges: John Steele, Alan Forrest (both Scotland)
Television match official: Graeme Hannah (Scotland)
Match commissioner: Fabrizio Zucchi (Italy)