Leicester v Exiles: Teams

Murphy: Tigerish leader

You have to keep improving week to week but Irish are a good side and, now we are into a final, we know we have to show our best form.

Richard Cockerill
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Geordan Murphy will lead the Leicester Tigers as they bid for a second Guinness Premiership title in three years, on Saturday.

The Ireland full-back has once again been named skipper of a first XV that sees just one change from the 24-10 semi-final success over Bath.

Prop Martin Castrogiovanni is ruled out through injury, with England international Julian White the beneficiary in the front row.

Louis Deacon returns from injury to claim a place among the replacements and prop Dan Cole steps up into the matchday 22, with head coach Richard Cockerill convinced only the best will do from his team.

"The guys have come through some intense games in very good shape and we have kept changes to a minimum," he said.

"We started very well against Bath last Saturday, probably as well as we have started any game this season, and we deserved to win in the end.

"You have to keep improving week to week but Irish are a good side and, now we are into a final, we know we have to show our best form."

Heineken Cup finalists Leicester have vanquished all in their path in recent weeks and are undoubted favourites for the Twickenham showpiece.

Hope

But London Irish can take heart from London Wasps' 26-16 triumph over the Tigers in last year's final in what will be the Exiles' debut in the Premiership showpiece.

England lock Nick Kennedy faces a late fitness test to determine whether he will be able to participate or not, following a knee injury sustained during Irish's assured 17-0 victory over Harlequins.

But the Exiles are otherwise unchanged from the team that performed so well at the Twickenham Stoop, with second-rower Bob Casey leading a side which sees England veteran Mike Catt retain his place at fly-half.

Delon Armitage remains at outside centre alongside midfield partner Seilala Mapusua, meanwhile, and head coach Toby Booth has high hopes his players will do themselves justice.

"We've worked hard to create the chance to compete in the final of the Guinness Premiership and we are looking forward to a great occasion," Booth said.

"Leicester are always there or thereabouts at finals time. However, the statistics show that being in and winning a final are two completely different things.

"If we perform well tomorrow, we have a good chance of winning. Our self-belief over a long season has earned us this opportunity, and we intend having no regrets come the final whistle."

Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (capt), 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Ayoola Erinle, 12 Dan Hipkiss, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Sam Vesty, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Ben Woods, 6 Craig Newby, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Tom Croft, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Dan Cole, 18 Louis Deacon, 19 Lewis Moody, 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Matt Smith, 22 Tom Varndell.

London Irish: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Delon Armitage, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagickibau, 10 Mike Catt, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Bob Casey (capt), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Danie Coetzee, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 Alex Corbisiero, 17 James Buckland, 18 James Hudson, 19 Richard Thorpe, 20 Elvis Seveali'i, 21 Peter Richards, 22 Tom Homer.