Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the Gallagher Premiership Round 5 fixture against Worcester Warriors.
“They [Worcester] are a side capable of scoring points ... and will be out to put in a big performance in front of their home crowd on Saturday afternoon”
Julián Montoya, who returned to action in Round 4, starts at hooker alongside club captain Ellis Genge and Dan Cole in the front row.
Nic Dolly, Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes are the front-row replacements.
Harry Wells and Eli Snyman are the second-row pairing in the Tigers pack, with Cameron Henderson and Ollie Chessum named on the Tigers bench.
In a new-look back row, Jasper Wiese is included for the first time this season after returning from international duty with South Africa.
Wiese starts at No8, with vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg and Marco van Staden the flankers.
Jack van Poortvliet is the starting scrum-half this week, partnering George Ford as the starting half-backs, with Richard Wigglesworth and Freddie Burns included among the replacements.
Matt Scott, who started last weekend’s away win over London Irish at outside-centre, shifts to inside-centre and is joined in the Leicester midfield by Matías Moroni.
Moroni, fellow Argentina international Montoya and Springboks duo van Staden and Wiese will all make their first starts of the 2021/22 season.
In an unchanged back three Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter are the wings and Freddie Steward starts at full-back.
Rounding out the replacements is Kini Murimurivalu who, if used, will make his first appearance of the season from the bench.
Previewing the game, Borthwick said: “Worcester are at a similar stage in their own journey to us at Leicester Tigers, with Jonathan Thomas clearly making the Worcester playing squad and coaching team his own.
“He has recruited some world class talent for this season, including two members of the British & Irish Lions touring squad.
“They are a side capable of scoring points, averaging more than 23 per game so far this season, and will be out to put in a big performance in front of their home crowd on Saturday afternoon.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [39]
14 Harry Potter [18]
13 Matías Moroni [17] *
12 Matt Scott [28]
11 Nemani Nadolo [19]
10 George Ford [109]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [24]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [93]
2 Julián Montoya [7]
3 Dan Cole [268]
4 Harry Wells [128]
5 Eli Snyman [3]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (vc) [40]
7 Marco van Staden [1]
8 Jasper Wiese [20] *
REPLACEMENTS
16 Nic Dolly [6]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [45]
18 Joe Heyes [74]
19 Cameron Henderson [18]
20 Ollie Chessum [11]
21 Richard Wigglesworth [16]
22 Freddie Burns [79]
23 Kini Murimurivalu [23] *
* denotes first appearance of 21/22 season
WORCESTER WARRIORS: 15 Harri Doel, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Francois Venter (CC), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Will Chudley; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Scott Baldwin (CC), 3 Christian Judge, 4 Andrew Kitchener, 5 Justin Clegg, 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Sione Vailanu
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Joe Batley, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Oli Morris
