Stats and preview of Tigers league clash
Perfect in playoffs
By Duncan Wood
February 7 2003
This is a big ask of a beleagured Shoguns side, but anything is possible. And there is no bigger incentive than turning over the Tigers at Welford Road in front of the Sky cameras...
You'd think that the last thing that Bristol would want right now is a televised visit to Welford Road.
After all, Bristol have some well documented issues on and off the field and Leicester are virtually unbeatable at home.
However, this may well have a galvanizing influence on the team - stranger things have happened and Bristol have a pretty good record against Leicester.
It's bound to be fiery. The last two encounters at the Memorial Stadium have seen red cards produced and Julian White has been in the thick of things although he misses out through injury this time.
Bristol simply have to dig deep and show what they're made of. A live Sky audience will be tuning in to see what the Shoguns are made of and the Tigers will certainly show them no mercy.
If the lads need any inspiration, they need only watch the video of last season's playoff victory - a magical win which saw a virtuoso performance from Felipe Contepomi.
Peter Thorburn has kept it canny and named a 23-man squad for the visit to Leicester with a number of players competing for recalls.
Full back Lee Best returns to the squad and will be competing for the number 15 shirt with both Jamie Williams who impressed last weekend, and Shane Drahm.
The 23-man squad is further boosted by Welsh hooker Saul Nelson, who returns after missing the Leeds game through injury.
The Shoguns coaching staff also promote back row forward Chris Morgan up to the 23-man squad. The 21-year-old flanker has staked his claim in recent second team fixtures and adds to Thorburn's options alongside Michael Lipman, Matt Salter and Ross Beattie in the back row.
Absent after last weekend is England prop Julian White, who misses out with a knee injury. Garath Archer also returns to the squad and will face a fitness test before kick off.
Bristol Shoguns squad:
Jamie Williams, Lee Best, Shane Drahm, Phil Christophers, David Rees, Andrew Higgins, Daryl Gibson, Felipe Contepomi, Peter Richards, Agustin Pichot, Saul Nelson, Paul Johnstone, Andrew Sheridan, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Darren Crompton, Alex Brown, Garath Archer, Scott Morgan, Chris Morgan, Matt Salter, Rhys Oakley, Michael Lipman, Ross Beattie.
It'll be tough but this team is capable of beating anyone on its day - let's hope tomorrow is one of those days.
Here are the stats from previous meetings:
Leicester Tigers vs Bristol Shoguns
Sat 08 Feb at Welford Road - KO 14:00 (Sky)
Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership
Played 24
Leicester Tigers Won 16 - 66.7%
Bristol Shoguns Won 8 - 33.3%
Drawn 0
Biggest Win for Leicester Tigers, 43 - 6, 28 Oct 1995
Biggest Win for Bristol Shoguns, 40 - 22, 30 Apr 1994
Leicester Tigers top try scorer vs Bristol Shoguns, Stuart
Potter, 5 tries
Leicester Tigers top points scorer vs Bristol Shoguns, John
Liley, 132 points
Bristol Shoguns top try scorer vs Leicester Tigers, Felipe
Contepomi, 3 tries
Bristol Shoguns top points scorer vs Leicester Tigers, Mark
Tainton, 93 points
Previous Meetings
| Date | Result | Venue | |
| 29 Sep 2002 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 20 - 25 | Memorial Stadium |
| 18 May 2002 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 13 - 27 | Welford Road |
| 05 May 2002 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 21 - 38 | Memorial Stadium |
| 08 Dec 2001 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 26 - 19 | Welford Road |
| 06 Feb 2001 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 17 - 10 | Welford Road |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 20 - 24 | Memorial Stadium |
| 14 May 2000 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 30 - 23 | Memorial Stadium |
| 23 Oct 1999 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 36 - 19 | Welford Road |
| 10 May 1998 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 34 - 25 | Welford Road |
| 28 Feb 1998 | Leicester Tigers vs Bristol | 27 - 24 | Memorial Stadium |
Leicester Tigers (4) v Bristol Shoguns (10)
· The Tigers may have won six of their seven Premiership matches at Welford Road this season but four opponents have left with bonus points for narrow defeats.
· Bristol have beaten Leicester on the last three occasions the two teams have met in all competitions - they have not won four in a row against Tigers since 1964-66. The south-westerners have, however, never won a league match at Welford Road in eleven previous attempts.
· Martin Johnson is in line to become the 33rd player in Tigers' history to make 300 appearances for the First XV. Darren Garforth is bidding to become the first player to play in 200 matches in England's top division whilst ex-Bristol skipper Martin Corry has appeared in 99 Premiership games for Leicester.