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Tigers change three for Welford Road opener

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Richard Cockerill has made three changes to the Leicester Tigers team in preparation for the first home game of the season, against Bath Rugby at Welford Road on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

The Tigers acting head coach will give first starts of the Guinness Premiership season to Andy Goode, Tom Croft and Matt Smith.

Fly-half Goode missed the opening-day win over Bristol after failing a late fitness test which allowed Smith to step up and claim a place among the replacements. The 21-year-old, who made his Tigers debut last season, played half an hour of the game at Bristol and retains his place as Ayoola Erinle is ruled out.

Croft comes in at blindside flanker in place of Owen Finegan in the other alteration to the starting XV.

"The Erinle change was forced upon us, but I have made a call on Andy Goode, who would have started last week, and Tom Croft," said Cockerill.

"The tactics and the commitment were perfect last week and we need them to be spot-on again because we know Bath are a good team and they enjoyed a good win over Worcester last Saturday.

"This is our first home game of the season and that is important to us. The guys are all looking forward to getting out there in front of the Welford Road crowd again."

Leicester Tigers (vs Bath, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)

15 Johne Murphy
14 Matt Smith
13 Ollie Smith
12 Sam Vesty
11 Tom Varndell
10 Andy Goode
9 Frank Murphy

1 Boris Stankovich
2 Benjamin Kayser
3 Julian White
4 Louis Deacon (captain)
5 Marco Wentzel
6 Tom Croft
7 Luke Abraham
8 Brett Deacon

Replacements

16 Mefin Davies
17 Dave Young
18 Richard Blaze
19 Jordan Crane
20 Christophe Laussucq
21 Paul Burke
22 Matt Cornwell

There are still a few remaining tickets for this fixture. Please pop into the Welford Road ticket office, call 08701 28 34 30, or visit the tickets section of this website to guarantee your place.