England internationals Dan Hipkiss and Harry Ellis return to the Leicester Tigers squad for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with ASM Clermont Auvergne at Welford Road (6pm).
Hipkiss takes the No13 shirt and joins Anthony Allen in the Tigers midfield, with Aaron Mauger ruled out by injury, while Lions scrum-half Ellis is named among the replacements on his return from a knee injury.
Ben Youngs is recalled at scrum-half, while Marcos Ayerza starts at loosehead prop in the only change to the forward pack following the first meeting of the sides last Sunday.
Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill said: “We know we did not play at our best last Sunday, but the players have to take credit for battling all the way to the end and giving themselves an opportunity to get something out of the game.
“Clermont played very well, they are a good side. But we are a good side too and we’re looking forward to another big European occasion in front of a big crowd at Welford Road.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game are on sale now and a Christmas party atmosphere is promised with mulled wine and mince pies, Christmas carols and a visit from Santa Claus.
Book your place by phoning the Tigers ticket hotline now on 0844 856 1880, book online or call in at Welford Road, the ticket office is open until 5pm tonight and from 9am tomorrow.
Leicester Tigers (v Clermont Auvergne, Welford Road, Saturday December 19, 6pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Alesana Tuilagi
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Anthony Allen
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Craig Newby
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Dan Cole
18 Boris Stankovich
19 Ben Kay
20 Brett Deacon
21 Harry Ellis
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Johne Murphy
Clermont Auvergne have made a number of changes to their side, with Napolioni Nalaga and Alexandre Lapandry, who both scored tries in the 40-30 win over Tigers last Sunday, missing out.
Aurelien Rougerie moves to the wing in the absence of Nalaga, with Seremaia Bai coming in to the midfield alongside Gonzalo Canale.
In the forwards, former Sale Sharks prop Lionel Faire comes in at loosehead, Julien Pierre steps up from the bench to start in the second row and there is a new-look back row. Julien Bonnaire switches to blindside, Alexandre Audebert replaces the injured Lapandry on the openside and Elvis Vermeulen is called up at No8.
Argentina prop Martin Sclezo, ruled out by flu last week, is named among the replacements.
ASM Clermont Auvergne
15 Anthony Floch
14 Aurelien Rougerie (c)
13 Gonzalo Canale
12 Seremaia Bai
11 Julien Malzieu
10 Brock James
9 Morgan Parra
1 Lionel Faure
2 Mario Ledesma
3 Davit Zirakishvili
4 Jamie Cudmore
5 Julien Pierre
6 Julien Bonnaire
7 Alexandre Audebert
8 Elvis Vermeulen
Replacements
16 Willie Wepener
17 Tomas Domingo
18 Martin Scelzo
19 Thibaut Privat
20 Jason White
21 Kevin Senio
22 Brent Russell
23 Wesley Fofana
Hipkiss takes the No13 shirt and joins Anthony Allen in the Tigers midfield, with Aaron Mauger ruled out by injury, while Lions scrum-half Ellis is named among the replacements on his return from a knee injury.
Ben Youngs is recalled at scrum-half, while Marcos Ayerza starts at loosehead prop in the only change to the forward pack following the first meeting of the sides last Sunday.
Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill said: “We know we did not play at our best last Sunday, but the players have to take credit for battling all the way to the end and giving themselves an opportunity to get something out of the game.
“Clermont played very well, they are a good side. But we are a good side too and we’re looking forward to another big European occasion in front of a big crowd at Welford Road.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game are on sale now and a Christmas party atmosphere is promised with mulled wine and mince pies, Christmas carols and a visit from Santa Claus.
Book your place by phoning the Tigers ticket hotline now on 0844 856 1880, book online or call in at Welford Road, the ticket office is open until 5pm tonight and from 9am tomorrow.
Leicester Tigers (v Clermont Auvergne, Welford Road, Saturday December 19, 6pm)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Alesana Tuilagi
13 Dan Hipkiss
12 Anthony Allen
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Mefin Davies
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Louis Deacon (c)
5 Geoff Parling
6 Craig Newby
7 Lewis Moody
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Dan Cole
18 Boris Stankovich
19 Ben Kay
20 Brett Deacon
21 Harry Ellis
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Johne Murphy
Clermont Auvergne have made a number of changes to their side, with Napolioni Nalaga and Alexandre Lapandry, who both scored tries in the 40-30 win over Tigers last Sunday, missing out.
Aurelien Rougerie moves to the wing in the absence of Nalaga, with Seremaia Bai coming in to the midfield alongside Gonzalo Canale.
In the forwards, former Sale Sharks prop Lionel Faire comes in at loosehead, Julien Pierre steps up from the bench to start in the second row and there is a new-look back row. Julien Bonnaire switches to blindside, Alexandre Audebert replaces the injured Lapandry on the openside and Elvis Vermeulen is called up at No8.
Argentina prop Martin Sclezo, ruled out by flu last week, is named among the replacements.
ASM Clermont Auvergne
15 Anthony Floch
14 Aurelien Rougerie (c)
13 Gonzalo Canale
12 Seremaia Bai
11 Julien Malzieu
10 Brock James
9 Morgan Parra
1 Lionel Faure
2 Mario Ledesma
3 Davit Zirakishvili
4 Jamie Cudmore
5 Julien Pierre
6 Julien Bonnaire
7 Alexandre Audebert
8 Elvis Vermeulen
Replacements
16 Willie Wepener
17 Tomas Domingo
18 Martin Scelzo
19 Thibaut Privat
20 Jason White
21 Kevin Senio
22 Brent Russell
23 Wesley Fofana
