Richard Wigglesworth has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Bristol Bears in Round 21 of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership.
Julián Montoya will captain the team at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday afternoon.
Wigglesworth welcomes back Dan Cole, Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward and Anthony Watson (England), as well as Tommy Reffell (Wales) to the matchday squad following the conclusion of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.
Anthony Watson, in his return to club duty, joins Harry Potter and Mike Brown in the back three.
Jimmy Gopperth, who did not feature in the club’s last outing away to Gloucester, starts in the Leicester midfield alongside Matt Scott.
Ben Youngs and Handré Pollard are the starting half-backs for a fifth successive match.
In the Tigers pack, George Martin and Cameron Henderson start in the second row after coming on as replacements in Round 20.
The front row and back row are unchanged from the bonus-point win at Kingsholm.
Meanwhile, the returning international quartet of Cole, Reffell, van Poortvliet and Steward are included among the replacements with Charlie Clare, James Cronin, Eli Snyman and Charlie Atkinson.
STARTING XV
15 Mike Brown [4]
14 Anthony Watson [11]
13 Matt Scott [62]
12 Jimmy Gopperth [12]
11 Harry Potter [61]
10 Handré Pollard [9]
9 Ben Youngs [298]
1 Tom West [5]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [38]
3 Joe Heyes [118]
4 George Martin [53]
5 Cameron Henderson [31]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [79]
7 Olly Cracknell [19]
8 Jasper Wiese [55]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [73]
17 James Cronin [11]
18 Dan Cole [304]
19 Eli Snyman [30]
20 Tommy Reffell [94]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [60]
22 Charlie Atkinson [13]
23 Freddie Steward [67]
Commentary
FULL-TIME | ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR TIGERS
Leicester Tigers secure the home win and try bonus point, that's now five wins in a row in the Gallagher Premiership!
CONVERSION | JIMMY GOPPERTH
The centre ends the match with an excellent kick from out left
TRY | CHARLIE CLARE
A powerful drive from short-range sees the hooker go over to put the game to bed
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION | BRISTOL BEARS
The away side bring on Noah Heward for Gabriel Ibitoye and Andy Uren for Harry Randall
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
Tigers take off Pollard and Cameron Henderson, being replaced by Charlie Atkinson and Eli Synman respectively
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
The experienced fly-half swings momentum back to the home side, adding an invaluable three points from 40 metres out
CONVERSION | BRISTOL BEARS
MacGinty converts the try and cuts the defecit
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
Harry Randall runs it in from around 22 metres out after Bears turned over the ball in their own 22, capitalising against a disorganised defence
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The 10 slots converts his own try from in front of the sticks
TRY | Handré Pollard
Unbelievable skills on display, starting with Jasper Wiese with a pass round the back, JVP kicks and Watson leaps highest to collect. Tigers play the phases before Pollard spots space in behind and chips over the top of the rushing defence, collects and scores under the posts
SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
A scrum-half switch as Jack van Poortvliet replaces Ben Youngs
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Another conversion slotted for the 10, this time from the right hand side of the pitch
TRY | Julián Montoya
The captain gets another, a classic rolling maul drive from the Tigers pack
YELLOW CARD | BRISTOL BEARS
Steven Luatua is shown a yellow card for being off-feet
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The extras are added and Tigers pull further in front
TRY | Julián Montoya
Tigers drive over from close range in typical fashion, the skipper touching down to regain the lead
QUADRUPLE SUBSTITUTION FOR TIGERS
Steward for the injured Matt Scott, before all three of Dan Cole, James Cronin and Tommy Reffell replace Joe Heyes, Tom West and Olly Cracknell
CONVERSION | BRISTOL BEARS
MacGinty adds the two points and Bears take the lead
TRY | BRISTOL BEARS
A chaotic sequence of events sees Matt Scott down and the ball fall into Bears hands who level the score
SUBSTITUTION | BRISTOL BEARS
Shift in the front-row as Max Lahiff is replaced by George Kloska
43
TRY SAVING TACKLE FROM WATSON
Bears make a break and look to score in the left corner but the wing works tremendously to get back and put a tackle in, allowing Tigers to clear their lines after Bristol are penalised for not releasing on the floor
SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY
Bristol Bears kick-off and Tigers begin running it in on their 22
HALF-TIME
Tigers lead by five points going into the break
PENALTY | BRISTOL BEARS
AJ MacGinty gets the three points from in front of the posts, cutting the Tigers lead to five points
29
CONVERSION MISSED | Handré Pollard
From way out wide, the fly-half is unfortunate to hit the left hand post so Tigers remain eight points ahead
TRY | ANTHONY WATSON
From a line out on Bears' five-metre line, Tigers capitalise, playing quick ball to the backs and going all the way out to the wing, where Watson steps his opposite number to touch down
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
Tigers make it count, driving forward to just outside the 22 and winning a penalty, which the South-African duly slots over
23
Tigers holding firm
Huge pair of defensive efforts, first a try-saving tackle from Harry Potter doing enough to get Ioan Lloyd into touch before, after clearing their lines following the subsequent line-out, Tigers win a line-out themselves on halfway through a big double tackle
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The 10 adds the extras from in front of the posts and Tigers are back on level terms
TRY | BEN YOUNGS
The scrum-half goes over with a classic pick and go through a gap, after thunderous yards had been made from Brown and Montoya in the build-up
CONVERSION FOR BRISTOL BEARS
AJ MacGinty adds the extras from in front of the posts
TRY FOR BRISTOL BEARS
Bristol Bears score the first points of the afternoon, executing a two on one following a James Williams break from half-way, with Harry Thacker going over for the try
SUBSTITUTION FOR BRISTOL BEARS
Yann Thomas enters the field for Sam Lewis, due to injury.
Prior to the injury, Bristol Bears played several phases on the Tigers 22 but the defence holds firm, with George Martin's big hit winning a penalty for the home side to alleviate pressure
WE'RE UNDERWAY AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Handré Pollard kicks-off with a short kick and Tigers instantly win a scrum, forcing a knock-on with a big hit
-5
FIVE MINUTES TO KICK-OFF
There's just five minutes to go until kick-off so get ready, Gallagher Premiership action is coming live from Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
-30
30 MINUTES TO KICK-OFF
We are just half an hour from getting underway here in Round 21 of the Gallagher Premiership, as Tigers take on Bristol Bears.
Get yourself down to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, switch on PRTV or stay with us here on Matchday Live, just make sure to catch all the action which will be coming your way very shortly.