Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership Final against Saracens at Twickenham Stadium.
The side includes just five players with previous Premiership Final experience, with the trio of Dan Cole, George Ford and Ben Youngs the only members from the club’s last outing in a decider nine seasons ago.
"We talk before every game about putting a performance that our supporters, our families and our friends will be proud of and that is the same ahead of Saturday’s game"
Ellis Genge leads the team at loosehead prop alongside Julián Montoya and Cole in the starting front row.
Charlie Clare, Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes are the front-row replacements on the Leicester bench.
Ollie Chessum and Calum Green are partnered in the second row, with vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Jasper Wiese making up the starting back row.
Harry Wells and George Martin are included among the replacements.
Richard Wigglesworth and Ford are the starting half-backs, while Guy Porter and Matías Moroni are the midfield pairing.
Freddie Steward is the starting full-back, with Harry Potter and Chris Ashton the wings in the back-three.
Youngs, Freddie Burns and Matt Scott are the backs among the Tigers replacements.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game against Saracens, Tigers Head Coach Borthwick said: “It is an exciting day for everyone involved with Leicester Tigers.”
“The players have worked exceptionally hard all season to consistently improve and compete every week.
“We talk before every game about putting a performance that our supporters, our families and our friends will be proud of and that is the same ahead of Saturday’s game.
“It is an exciting team to go out and represent Leicester Tigers at Twickenham and we will need an 80-minute performance in each position against an experienced side like Saracens, who have world-class players throughout their squad.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [55]
14 Chris Ashton [11]
13 Matías Moroni [35]
12 Guy Porter [44]
11 Harry Potter [40]
10 George Ford [128]
9 Richard Wigglesworth [36]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [110]
2 Julián Montoya [26]
3 Dan Cole [289]
4 Ollie Chessum [30]
5 Calum Green [90]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (vc) [58]
7 Tommy Reffell [77]
8 Jasper Wiese [44]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [51]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [67]
18 Joe Heyes [100]
19 Harry Wells [155]
20 George Martin [38]
21 Ben Youngs [281]
22 Freddie Burns [102]
23 Matt Scott [46]
SARACENS XV: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Max Malins, 13 Elliot Daly , 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Aled Davies; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Jackson Wray, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Alex Lozowski
