Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the Gallagher Premiership game against Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this Friday.
The Tigers head coach is without Ollie Chessum, George Ford, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Freddie Steward and Ben Youngs who have been retained by England for their game against Italy in Round 2 of the Six Nations.
Hanro Liebenberg will captain the Tigers team, with Richard Wigglesworth as vice-captain.
“This is an exciting game on Friday night and one we are looking forward to"
Borthwick has named an unchanged tight-five, with James Whitcombe, Julián Montoya and Dan Cole in the front row, and Harry Wells and Calum Green as the second-row pairing.
Charlie Clare, Francois van Wyk and Nephi Leatigaga are the replacement front-rowers on the Tigers bench.
In the only change to the Leicester pack which defeated Worcester Warriors last weekend, skipper Liebenberg moves to blindside flanker and Tommy Reffell comes in at openside, while Jasper Wiese retains his place at No8.
Eli Snyman and George Martin are the remaining forwards included among the replacements.
"We are going to need to be at our best on Friday up against what is an incredibly dangerous Northampton side"
Wigglesworth and Freddie Burns are the starting half-backs, with Dan Kelly and Guy Porter the centres.
On one wing, Nemani Nadolo returns to action after more than a month, with Harry Potter included on the other and Bryce Hegarty named at full-back in the Tigers back-three.
Jack van Poortvliet, Matt Scott and Chris Ashton are the replacement backs on the bench.
If used, Ashton will make his Leicester Tigers debut after joining the club on a short-term deal this week.
Previewing the Friday evening fixture, Borthwick said: “We are going to need to be at our best on Friday up against what is an incredibly dangerous Northampton side.
“The way they move the ball, the way they put together that phase attack is exceptional and will be a big challenge for us to try to contain.”
Discussing the importance of the derby, the Tigers Head Coach added: “This is an exciting game on Friday night and one we are looking forward to.
“Our focus this week, as it always is, has been on how we get better as a team and preparing as best we can to put in a performance that makes our supporters, our families and everyone at Leicester Tigers proud.”
STARTING XV
15 Bryce Hegarty [8]
14 Harry Potter [28]
13 Guy Porter [32]
12 Dan Kelly [35]
11 Nemani Nadolo [25]
10 Freddie Burns [88]
9 Richard Wigglesworth (vc) [26]
1 James Whitcombe [13]
2 Julián Montoya [17]
3 Dan Cole [280]
4 Harry Wells [142]
5 Calum Green [77]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [45]
7 Tommy Reffell [64]
8 Jasper Wiese [30]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [40]
17 Francois van Wyk [8]
18 Nephi Leatigaga [57]
19 Eli Snyman [10]
20 George Martin [30]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [36]
22 Matt Scott [38]
23 Chris Ashton *
* Leicester Tigers debut
SAINTS XV
15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Fraser Dingwall (c), 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 George Furbank, 9 Alex Mitchell, 1 Alex Waller, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Paul Hill, 4 David Ribbans, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Teimana Harrison, 8 Juarno Augustus
REPLACEMENTS
16 Mike Haywood, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Conor Carey, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Karl Wilkins, 21 Tom James, 22 James Grayson, 23 Matt Proctor
