Johnson back for Tigers
Leicester have received a timely Heineken Cup boost with the return of Martin Johnson for tomorrow’s clash against Ulster.
Johnson, who is set to announce his retirement from international rugby at a Welford Road press conference later in the day, has shrugged off a back problem and starts the game.
England’s World Cup-winning captain went on as a second-half substitute during the 33-0 Pool One defeat against Ulster in Belfast last Sunday.
And while the Tigers pack is otherwise unchanged, rugby director Dean Richards fields a new-look back division.
Centres Daryl Gibson (hamstring) and Ollie Smith (concussion) are both out injured, so Glenn Gelderbloom and Leon Lloyd form the midfield partnership.
Italian Test fly-half Ramiro Pez misses out in favour of South African Jaco van der Westhuyzen, who moves from full-back, and Sam Vesty wears the number jersey, while Harry Ellis features at scrum-half instead of Austin Healey who moves to the left-wing.
It will be Ellis’ first appearance since completing a lengthy period of suspension.
“We’re obviously disappointed with last weekend, and felt that on the day we didn’t play as we wanted, resorting to a one-dimensional game and missing one-on-one tackles,” said Richards.
“We didn’t perform, and that is the main thing. The players know they can do better, and while there were a lot of factors involved, we just didn’t deliver.
“In times of crisis, things don’t go your way, but you can’t block it, you have to analyse it and learn from it. We’ve done that now, and I am not going to apportion blame to any particular area it was an all-round poor performance.
“The season is not over, even though silverware might elude us. We’re still in with a shout, and as long as we have 22 players to put out on to the pitch every week, I don’t think people should write us off.
“If we win our next three games, we still have every chance of going through. Ulster still have to go to Stade Francais, so it’s very much open.”
