Unfancied Tigers ready to front up to Blues, says Cockerill

LEICESTER head coach Richard Cockerill is unconcerned about his side being underdogs for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Cardiff Blues at the Millennium Stadium.

And the former England hooker has hinted the Tigers may adopt a physical approach to try to blunt the threat of the Blues, who hammered Gloucester 50-12 in the recent EDF Energy Cup final.

Six Cardiff players have been named in the Lions squad for their summer tour of South Africa but Cockerill believes his own players are worthy of respect after finishing top of the Guinness Premiership and facing another semi-final in that competition against Bath six days after tackling Cardiff.