BAMBI PLAYS AGAINST ARGENTINA

Rowntree leads mix of youth and experience
9 February 2007, 11:48 am
By Gary Sherrard

Graham Rowntree will lead out Leicester Tigers as captain in his final club appearance, in the PwC Challenge Cup match against Argentina on Sunday (kick-off 3pm). The former England and British & Irish Lions prop, who is the club’s assistant forwards coach, will be playing his 398th game for Tigers, which ranks him sixth on the club’s all-time list.
The former England and British & Irish Lions prop, who is the club’s assistant forwards coach, will be playing his 398th game for Tigers, which ranks him sixth on the club’s all-time list.
“I have had incredible good fortune in being involved with this club for so long, to have won some great things and with some incredible players. I would not change a single thing in my time here,” said Rowntree who twice won the club’s outstanding service award, as well as playing in five championship-winning sides, four domestic cup finals and three Heineken Cup finals.

“Rugby at Leicester is my life and has been my life for a long time. Leicester Tigers is in my blood. I could not imagine going to play for any other club.”

Prop Rowntree will lead a team featuring a blend of experience and youth for the international contest against a side who are preparing for the Rugby World Cup in the autumn.

There is an experienced look to the backline, with senior internationals Daryl Gibson, Leon Lloyd and Tom Varndell joined by former England U-21 captain Matt Cornwell and Johne Murphy.

Scott Bemand returns at No.9, with Sam Vesty taking the fly-half spot as Andy Goode is given more time to make a full recovery from his hamstring injury.

Rowntree and former Argentina international Alex Moreno combine with Gavin Hickie in the front row, with Tom Croft joining Gillanders at lock. Brett Deacon leads a back-row unit featuring Ben Pienaar, who made his senior debut in the EDF Energy Cup match at Northampton earlier this season, and Shaw.

England U-19 international lock Gregor Gillanders has been rewarded for his fine form in the Academy and development teams with a call-up for his senior debut and Alex Shaw, an England U-20 cap, has been named at openside flanker.

The bench features teenage half-back Ben Youngs and 26-year-old back-row forward Rory McKay from Waterloo.

Argentina began their trip to England with a 40-17 win over Northampton Saints on Wednesday and will be looking for another good performance at Welford Road.

Tickets for Sunday’s PwC Challenge Cup are still available from the Tigers ticket office, call 08701 28 34 30. All junior tickets are just £5.

Tigers team (v Argentina, Sunday, Welford Road, kick-off 3pm)

15 Johne Murphy
14 Leon Lloyd
13 Daryl Gibson
12 Matt Cornwell
11 Tom Varndell
10 Sam Vesty
9 Scott Bemand

1 Graham Rowntree (captain)
2 Gavin Hickie
3 Alex Moreno
4 Gregor Gillanders
5 Tom Croft
6 Ben Pienaar
7 Alex Shaw
8 Brett Deacon

Replacements

16 James Buckland
17 Michael Holford
18 Ian Nimmo
19 Rory McKay
20 Frank Murphy
21 Ben Youngs
22 Matt Smith

This article was originally posted on 10-Feb-2007, 23:08 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 11-Feb-2007, 09:22.