Published: Friday, 15th May, 2009 11:30am

Experienced White returns for Tigers

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EXPERIENCED England prop Julian White comes back into the Leicester Tigers team in their only change ahead of tomorrow's Guinness Premiership final with London Irish.

The fearsome scrummager replaces the injured Italian front row Martin Castrogiovanni, while Ireland full back Geordan Murphy continues as captain.

Elsewhere head coach Richard Cockerill keeps faith with the side that beat Bath in the semi finals last weekend, meaning the likes of Lewis Moody, Harry Ellis, Matt Smith and Tom Varndell have to be satisfied with a place on the bench.

White joins fellow England international George Chuter and Argentine Marcos Ayerza in a powerful Tigers front row.

Tom Croft and Ben Kay make up the second row while Craig Newby, Ben Woods and Jordan Crane complete an impressive pack.

In the backs scrum-half Julien Dupuy will continue with the kicking responsibilities alongside Sam Vesty at 10.

Centres Ayoola Erinle and Dan Hipkiss get the nod, while Geordan Murphy, fellow Irishman Johne Murphy and Scott Hamilton make up the back three.

Cockerill said: "The guys have come through some intense games in very good shape and we have kept changes to a minimum.

"We started very well against Bath last Saturday, probably as well as we have started any game this season, and we deserved to win in the end.

"You have to keep improving week to week but Irish are a good side and, now we are into a final, we know we have to show our best form."

LEICESTER: 15 Geordan Murphy (captain); 14 Scott Hamilton; 13 Ayoola Erinle; 12 Dan Hipkiss; 11 Johne Murphy; 10 Sam Vesty; 9 Julien Dupuy; 1 Marcos Ayerza; 2 George Chuter; 3 Julian White; 4 Tom Croft; 5 Ben Kay;6 Craig Newby; 7 Ben Woods; 8 Jordan Crane;

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser; 17 Dan Cole; 18 Louis Deacon; 19 Lewis Moody; 20 Harry Ellis; 21 Matt Smith; 22 Tom Varndell

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