Murphy Back For Tigers
Owing to a groin injury to Sam Vesty, Geordan Murphy will be pressed into action for Leicester Tigers in tomorrow’s Guinness Premiership tie with champions Wasps.
Geordan Murphy in Leicester colours
Owing to injuries, Geordan Murphy will be pressed into action for Leicester Tigers in tomorrow’s Guinness Premiership tie with champions Wasps.
The Ireland wing-cum-full-back has not played competitively or otherwise since starting the third and final Lions’ Test against the All Blacks in Auckland on July 9. The Kildare man has been brought into the Tigers’ line-up at full-back due to a late groin injury picked up by Sam Vesty.
Tigers head coach Pat Howard said: “Geordan’s spent the past few weeks in the gym and on the training field. We were hoping to give him an extra week off, but Sam’s groin has got progressively worse.”
Tomorrow’s clash at the Causeway Stadium is sure to be a highly-charged one. The Leicester side also includes Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings – summer recruits from Leinster – while Wasps boast former Munster scrum-half Eoin Reddan and Ireland flanker Johnny O’Connor in their starting XV. Former Connacht prop Peter Bracken is included on their bench.
Last season’s IRUPA Player of the Year O’Connor is looking forward to his openside duel with Irish compatriot Jennings.
Shane Jennings is a good player. Many people were surprised and disappointed when he wasn’t selected to play in that (Heineken Cup) quarter-final game for Leinster against Leicester last season. It was a bit of a disgrace at the time,” O’Connor told the Wasps’ website.
“It’s a good move for him to go to Tigers. It will be good to line up against him tomorrow, and Leo Cullen as well. They are both good lads but I’m sure that they won’t be nice on the pitch!”