Leicester Tigers give winger Lote Tuqiri his first start and welcome back Toby Flood, Matt Smith and Craig Newby for Saturday's LV= Cup tie against Newport Gwent Dragons at Welford Road.
Tuqiri played 20 minutes off the bench in the historic win over South Africa last Friday and is given a starting berth this weekend, while Newby lines up in the back row, and Flood and Smith return to take a place among the replacements.
Will Hurrell retains his place after scoring a try at Leeds Carnegie last Sunday, while Anthony Allen and Andy Forsyth forge a new partnership in midfield and Jeremy Staunton is at fly-half after sitting out last weekend.
Boris Stankovich, who played such a major role in the demolition of the Springboks’ scrum, is joined in the front row by Dan Cole and George Chuter. Geoff Parling links up with skipper Ben Kay at lock, while Newby makes his comeback alongside Ben Pienaar and Jordan Crane in the back row.
“With Toby, Newbs and Matt Smith, we’re starting to get a few back from injury now, which means we have more options available,” said head coach Richard Cockerill.
“Jeremy Staunton and Anthony Allen were left out last week because they’ve played a lot of rugby and we want to have all the guys fresh because it is a long season.”
The Dragons opened their cup campaign with a win over Sale Sharks and Cockerill said: “I know their coach Paul Turner well and they are going well this season. We respect them and Paul will have them well organised.”
Tigers still have Harry Ellis, Geordan Murphy, Billy Twelvetrees, Sam Vesty, Julian White and Ben Woods ruled out by injury.
Match tickets are available now and will be on sale up to kick-off on Saturday. Phone the hotline on 0844 856 1880, book online or call in at Welford Road. The match is included in Tigers season tickets.
The international match between England and Argentina, which features five members of the Tigers squad, will be shown ‘as live’ in the bars at Welford Road straight after the final whistle in the Tigers match, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action.
Leicester Tigers (v Newport Gwent Dragons, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Lote Tuqiri
13 Andy Forsyth
12 Anthony Allen
11 Will Hurrell
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich
2 George Chuter
3 Dan Cole
4 Geoff Parling
5 Ben Kay (c)
6 Craig Newby
7 Ben Pienaar
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Mefin Davies
17 Robbie Harris
18 Johnny Harris
19 Calum Green
20 Dan Hemingway
21 James Grindal
22 Toby Flood
23 Matt Smith
Tuqiri played 20 minutes off the bench in the historic win over South Africa last Friday and is given a starting berth this weekend, while Newby lines up in the back row, and Flood and Smith return to take a place among the replacements.
Will Hurrell retains his place after scoring a try at Leeds Carnegie last Sunday, while Anthony Allen and Andy Forsyth forge a new partnership in midfield and Jeremy Staunton is at fly-half after sitting out last weekend.
Boris Stankovich, who played such a major role in the demolition of the Springboks’ scrum, is joined in the front row by Dan Cole and George Chuter. Geoff Parling links up with skipper Ben Kay at lock, while Newby makes his comeback alongside Ben Pienaar and Jordan Crane in the back row.
“With Toby, Newbs and Matt Smith, we’re starting to get a few back from injury now, which means we have more options available,” said head coach Richard Cockerill.
“Jeremy Staunton and Anthony Allen were left out last week because they’ve played a lot of rugby and we want to have all the guys fresh because it is a long season.”
The Dragons opened their cup campaign with a win over Sale Sharks and Cockerill said: “I know their coach Paul Turner well and they are going well this season. We respect them and Paul will have them well organised.”
Tigers still have Harry Ellis, Geordan Murphy, Billy Twelvetrees, Sam Vesty, Julian White and Ben Woods ruled out by injury.
Match tickets are available now and will be on sale up to kick-off on Saturday. Phone the hotline on 0844 856 1880, book online or call in at Welford Road. The match is included in Tigers season tickets.
The international match between England and Argentina, which features five members of the Tigers squad, will be shown ‘as live’ in the bars at Welford Road straight after the final whistle in the Tigers match, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action.
Leicester Tigers (v Newport Gwent Dragons, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Lote Tuqiri
13 Andy Forsyth
12 Anthony Allen
11 Will Hurrell
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 Ben Youngs
1 Boris Stankovich
2 George Chuter
3 Dan Cole
4 Geoff Parling
5 Ben Kay (c)
6 Craig Newby
7 Ben Pienaar
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Mefin Davies
17 Robbie Harris
18 Johnny Harris
19 Calum Green
20 Dan Hemingway
21 James Grindal
22 Toby Flood
23 Matt Smith
