Leicester Tigers’ six game winning run in the Guinness Premiership ended at the hands of visiting Saracens on Saturday but nevertheless the Tigers still contest the playoffs for a sixth straight season.
Leicester have won their last eight semi-final encounters in all competitions since Wasps beat them in the Powergen Cup at Millennium Stadium in March 2006, whilst Leicester’s most recent semi-final defeat at Welford Road was in April 1995, again to Wasps but this time in the Pilkington Cup.
Bath Rugby’s only defeat in their last 12 Guinness Premiership matches was 20-43 against Leicester at Welford Road on 3 April. Bath have made it to a third straight semi-final appearance despite residing in 11th place in the Guinness Premiership table at the half-way stage at the turn of the year.
Leicester are unbeaten in their last six matches with Bath in all competitions, whilst Bath’s only win at Welford Road since 1995 was 13-12 in the Premiership on 29 November 2003.
The two teams have met twice before in semi-finals: Bath winning 10-6 at Welford Road in the John Player Cup in April 1986, and the Tigers triumphing 24-10 at Walkers Stadium at this same stage last season.
England internationals Toby Flood, Jordan Crane and Louis Deacon return to the Leicester Tigers line-up for the match. "There are four very good sides in the semi-finals, which is just what you want at this stage of the competition," said Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill.
"We didn't play well last week, we made too many mistakes, but the good thing in sport is that there is always another challenge to face and a chance to put it right.
"We've been playing well and the players have worked extremely hard all year to get into this position and now we have the opportunity to take a step further. But we'll only be able to do that if we play at our best.
Match :Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Date : Sunday 16 May
Venue : Welford Road
Kick Off :4pm
Referee: Chris White (179th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Paul Dix and Dave Pearson.
TMO: David Matthews.
Teams
Leicester Tigers : 15 Geordan Murphy (c) , 14 Scott Hamilton , 13 Matt Smith , 12 Anthony Allen , 11 Alesana Tuilagi , 10 Toby Flood , 9 Ben Youngs , 1 Marcos Ayerza , 2 George Chuter , 3 Martin Castrogiovanni , 4 Louis Deacon , 5 Geoff Parling , 6 Tom Croft , 7 Lewis Moody , 8 Jordan Crane
Bath Rugby : 15. Nick Abendanon , 14. Joe Maddock , 13. Matt Carraro , 12. Olly Barkley , 11. Matt Banahan , 10. Butch James , 9. Michael Claassens (c) , 1. David Flatman , 2. Lee Mears , 3. David Wilson , 4. Stuart Hooper , 5. Danny Grewcock , 6. Andy Beattie , 7. Julian Salvi , 8. Luke Watson
16. Pieter Dixon , 17. David Barnes , 18. Duncan Bell , 19. Peter Short , 20. Ben Skirving , 21. Mike Baxter , 22. Ryan Davis , 23. Shontayne Hape
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