Vesty wants Exiles kept out

12 April 2012

Sam Vesty has demanded his Leicester team-mates use their defence as an attacking weapon against London Irish in today's Guinness Premiership final.

The double-chasing Tigers will be appearing in their fifth successive Premiership final - they won only in 2007 - and start as heavy favourites against Irish.

In-form fly-half Vesty admires the Exiles' swashbuckling style but said: "Our defence has been pretty good apart from the odd lapse in concentration. It's usually all-consuming and if we can defend like we're capable of it's a very powerful weapon."

He added: "Irish have some very good, dynamic players who can score tries from anywhere. Sometimes they don't play so well but when they're on song they look like a team of world beaters.

"A lot of that is down to the team they're playing so if we're in their face and don't let them get into their stride we've got a chance.

Prop Martin Castrogiovanni has been ruled out through injury so his place in the front row goes to Julian White. White's promotion to the starting line-up represents Leicester's solitary change following their victory over play-off rivals Bath last Saturday.

There is no place in Tigers' match-day 22 for Martin Corry, who will retire at the end of this season, with full-back Geordan Murphy retaining captaincy duties.

The Leicester bench, meanwhile, features four England internationals - wing Tom Varndell, scrum-half Harry Ellis, lock Louis Deacon and flanker Lewis Moody.

Irish lock Nick Kennedy faces a fitness test after suffering a knee injury during the 17-0 victory over play-off opponents Harlequins last weekend.

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