Leicester’s success has justified my switch, says Flood

TOBY FLOOD believes Leicester’s presence at the business end of the Heineken Cup has more than justified his move from his beloved Newcastle Falcons.

The England out-half opted to make the switch from Newcastle to Leicester last summer, and believes occasions like this weekend against EDF Energy Cup winners Cardiff show he made the right call. He said: “It will be as close as I’ve ever played in a club game to an international Test match, if not surpassing it in terms of the pressure involved in the game really and what it means.

“These are the games you want to be involved in. You play all season and hope that semi-finals and finals come around at the end of it.

“One of the reasons I came to Leicester was wanting to be involved in games like this and testing myself against some of the best players in the world.

“It doesn’t matter if you have played in 10 semi-finals or if it is your first. To play in a game like this, and against such a good team, is what you look forward to.”

An indication of Cardiff’s strength is that they have six members of the Lions party for the summer tour of South Africa in their squad.

But Flood insists there is plenty of belief in the Leicester camp, particularly after handing out a 73-3 mauling to Bristol last weekend.

He said: “Confidence is pretty high. Coming off the back of our biggest win of the season has done the boys a world of good, but they realise what a test we have got.

“Cardiff have played some fantastic rugby recently. They have won the EDF Energy Cup and look really strong winning games so we realise what a tough test it is.

“But I think the guys are quite excited about that and looking forward to the challenge.

“You’ve got to back yourself. If you look at the quality in our squad, you’ve got to back yourself as a good team that can beat any other team on their day.

“They will be sat in their changing room saying exactly the same thing.”

Wing Scott Hamilton and prop Marcos Ayerza return to the Tigers’ starting XV for the clash.

Craig Newby keeps his place at blindside, with Ben Woods and Jordan Crane completing the back row as Tom Croft and Ben Kay continue at lock. Irish international Geordan Murphy again captains the team from full-back.

There are six internationals on the bench, including Julian White, Harry Ellis and Aaron Mauger who makes his return to the matchday squad after injury.

There is one change from the Cardiff side that defeated Toulouse in the quarter-final and won the EDF Energy Cup in Twickenham a fortnight ago.

Richie Rees starts at scrum-half instead of the injured Jason Spice, while Darren Allinson takes his place on the bench.