Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for Saturday’s game against London Irish at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Round 20 of the Gallagher Premiership season.
Hanro Liebenberg captains the side, with Julián Montoya and Richard Wigglesworth his vice-captains for the clash with The Exiles.
"When they play that running rugby they play, you can see how dangerous they are"
In the front row, James Whitcombe and Joe Heyes are the props with vice-captain Montoya at hooker.
After spending the week in camp with England, Heyes has been released by the national side to return to club duty.
Leicester quartet George Ford, Ellis Genge, Freddie Steward and Ben Youngs have been named in England’s side to face Ireland, with Ollie Chessum also retained by the national side ahead of their Six Nations fixture on Saturday at Twickenham.
Charlie Clare, Francois van Wyk and Nephi Leatigaga are the replacement front-rowers on the Leicester bench.
Harry Wells and Eli Snyman are the starting locks, with captain Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Jasper Wiese named in the back row.
Calum Green and Olly Robinson are the remaining forwards on the Leicester bench.
Freddie Burns starts at fly-half in the 31-year-old’s 200th Premiership appearance, including 89 for Leicester Tigers.
Burns is joined by vice-captain Wigglesworth as the starting half-backs.
Dan Kelly and Matt Scott are named as the centre-pairing for the first time in six games and for just the ninth time in the current campaign.
In the Tigers back-three, Bryce Hegarty returns at full-back to join wings Harry Potter and Nemani Nadolo.
Jack van Poortvliet, Matías Moroni and Chris Ashton are the replacement backs.
Speaking about Saturday’s opponents, the Tigers Head Coach said: “When they play that running rugby they play, you can see how dangerous they are.”
“That style, running from their own half with the pace that they have, it makes them a dangerous team.
“That London Irish attack is a real threat.”
See Steve Borthwick’s preview for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership fixture HERE.
STARTING XV
15 Bryce Hegarty [11]
14 Harry Potter [32]
13 Matt Scott [42]
12 Dan Kelly [38]
11 Nemani Nadolo [29]
10 Freddie Burns [92]
9 Richard Wigglesworth (vc) [30]
1 James Whitcombe [17]
2 Julián Montoya (vc) [20]
3 Joe Heyes [91]
4 Harry Wells [145]
5 Eli Snyman [14]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [48]
7 Tommy Reffell [68]
8 Jasper Wiese [34]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [43]
17 Francois van Wyk [12]
18 Nephi Leatigaga [60]
19 Calum Green [81]
20 Olly Robinson [3]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [40]
22 Matías Moroni [25]
23 Chris Ashton [3]
London Irish: 15 James Stokes, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Nick Phipps (c), 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 4 Chunya Munga, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Olly Cracknell, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Albert Tuisue
Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 22 Hugh O’Sullivan, 23 Henry Arundell
