Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for Saturday’s game against Gloucester Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Round 18 of the Gallagher Premiership season.
Hanro Liebenberg will captain the side with Borthwick naming two vice-captains in Julián Montoya and Jack van Poortvliet.
"There is a lot of growth in this group and we must remain focused on continuing to work hard, every day, for each other and continuing to learn and improve in order to carry the team forward"
Steve Borthwick
Up front, Montoya is hooker with James Whitcombe and Joe Heyes the starting props.
Heyes returned to the club in midweek after being released by England ahead of their Six Nations game against Wales.
George Ford, Ellis Genge, Freddie Steward and Ben Youngs have been included in the England matchday squad, with Ollie Chessum a travelling reserve for the Test match at Twickenham.
Harry Wells and Eli Snyman are Leicester’s starting locks, with Liebenberg, George Martin and Jasper Wiese in the back row.
Nic Dolly, Francois van Wyk, Nephi Leatigaga, Calum Green and Tommy Reffell are the replacement forwards.
Freddie Burns partners van Poortvliet as the starting half-backs, with Dan Kelly and Guy Porter again named in the Tigers midfield.
Chris Ashton is included on one wing for his first starting appearance for the club, joining Nemani Nadolo and Bryce Hegarty in the Leicester back three.
Richard Wigglesworth, Matt Scott and Harry Potter are the backs on the bench.
Speaking about the matchday squad named, Borthwick said: “Each week, we are looking for the best 80 minutes in each position - no matter who starts or finishes the game.”
“There is a lot of growth in this group and we must remain focused on continuing to work hard, every day, for each other and continuing to learn and improve in order to carry the team forward.”
Discussing Saturday’s opponents, the Tigers Head Coach added: “Gloucester are an excellent team and come to Leicester well rested following a bye last weekend with strong depth in the squad, relatively unaffected by international call ups.
“It is a group who are well established, having played a lot of rugby together and had continued, heavy investment in over a number of years and will be a big challenge on Saturday afternoon.”
STARTING XV
15 Bryce Hegarty [10]
14 Chris Ashton [2]
13 Guy Porter [34]
12 Dan Kelly [37]
11 Nemani Nadolo [27]
10 Freddie Burns [90]
9 Jack van Poortvliet (vc) [38]
1 James Whitcombe [15]
2 Julián Montoya (vc) [19]
3 Joe Heyes [89]
4 Harry Wells [144]
5 Eli Snyman [12]
6 George Martin [32]
7 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [47]
8 Jasper Wiese [32]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Nic Dolly [16]
17 Francois van Wyk [10]
18 Nephi Leatigaga [58]
19 Calum Green [79]
20 Tommy Reffell [66]
21 Richard Wigglesworth [28]
22 Matt Scott [40]
23 Harry Potter [30]
GLOUCESTER XV: 15 Kyle Moyle, 14 Santiago Carreras, 13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Charlie Chapman; 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Jordy Reid, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c) 8 Ruan Ackermann.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 George Barton, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit
