Leicester v Bath: Team news

Leicester Tigers welcome back seven internationals for their trip to Bath on Saturday.

Bath v Leicester Tigers

Guinness Premiership, The Rec, Saturday March 25, KO: 2.15pm

Bath welcome back England international trio Lee Mears, Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock for the visit of Leicester to The Recreation Ground. 

Prop Duncan Bell is fit to start at tighthead, while England A back rowers Andy Beattie and Michael Lipman are also included.

Nick Walshe and Chris Malone form the half-back pairing, while Michael Stephenson returns to the side at full-back and David Bory is named on the left wing.

Leicester Tigers will have seven international players back in their squad to help them reinforce their play-off hopes.

Head coach Pat Howard welcomes back Martin Corry, Lewis Moody, Andy Goode, Harry Ellis (pictured), Julian White, Shane Jennings and Geordan Murphy who all featured in the Six Nations Championship.

Howard said that spirits are high among those players returning to the side.

"I've spoken to them all individually," he said.

"I had to ask them if they are ready and they have all said that if they are managed right during the week, they will be raring to go.

"They all want to get out there and play. They have had the highs of the Six Nations and don't want to lose that adrenaline now they have come home. The guys that have been here are in good nick and the guys from the Six Nations are match-hardened and have been playing at a higher level."

Howard also went on to defend scrum half Harry Ellis following criticism from some sectors over his performances.

"I have seen some undue criticism of Harry. I know the best half-back players in the world and Harry is a very good half-back.

"There are some areas of his game that are better than (Australian skipper) George Gregan's. Harry's ability to make a break on collision and finish breaks of 60 metres is unique."

Winger Seru Rabeni won't feature in the game at the Rec, with the coach opting to give him extra time to recover from reconstructive surgery on his knee.

Bath team: 15 M Stephenson, 14 S Finau, 13 A Crockett, 12 J Maddock, 11 D Bory, 10 C Malone, 9 N Walshe; 1 D Flatman, 2 L Mears, 3 D Bell, 4 S Borthwick (capt), 5 D Grewcock, 6 A Beattie, 7 M Lipman, 8 G Delve.
Replacements: 16 P Dixon, 17 T Filise, 18 Z Feaunati, 19 P Short, 20 A Williams, 21 A Dunne, 22 A Higgins.

Leicester Tigers squad: 15 S Vesty, 14 G Murphy, 13 L Lloyd, 12 O Smith, 11 D Hipkiss, 10 A Goode, 9 H Ellis, 1 G Rowntree, 2 J Buckland, 3 J White, 4 B Kay, 5 L Deacon, 6 S Jennings, 7 L Moody, 8 M Corry (capt).
Replacements: 16 E Taukafa, 17 M Holford, 18 L Cullen, 19 W Skinner, 20 A Healey, 21 M Cornwell, 22 A Tuilagi.