Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the Gallagher Premiership Round 6 home fixture against Sale Sharks this Saturday.
“Sale are one of the league’s benchmark sides and are showing again this season that they will be a force in the Premiership"
Ellis Genge captains the team at loosehead prop in an unchanged front row alongside Julián Montoya and Dan Cole.
Nic Dolly, Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes are the replacement front-rowers.
In the only change to the Tigers pack from Round 5, Calum Green returns at lock alongside Harry Wells in the second row.
Jasper Wiese is at No8, with vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg the blindside flanker and Marco van Staden at openside in the Leicester back row.
George Martin and Tommy Reffell return to the matchday squad on the Tigers bench.
“We know the power, experience and class they possess within their ranks and are preparing for a big challenge on Saturday afternoon at Mattioli Woods Welford Road"
Ben Youngs, who did not feature in the win at Worcester Warriors last Saturday, returns to partner George Ford as the starting half-backs, with Richard Wigglesworth and Freddie Burns among the replacements.
Dan Kelly returns at inside-centre with Matt Scott, who started the win over Worcester at inside-centre, moving to outside-centre.
In an unchanged back three, Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter are the wings and Freddie Steward starts at full-back.
Matías Moroni, who scored in his first appearance of the campaign last weekend, rounds out the Tigers bench.
Previewing the game, Borthwick said: “Sale are one of the league’s benchmark sides and are showing again this season that they will be a force in the Premiership.
“They have built a strong squad over a number of years and deservedly been towards the top of the league table for the past few seasons, which looks likely again after the opening rounds of this season
“We know the power, experience and class they possess within their ranks and are preparing for a big challenge on Saturday afternoon at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [40]
14 Harry Potter [19]
13 Matt Scott [29]
12 Dan Kelly [23]
11 Nemani Nadolo [20]
10 George Ford [110]
9 Ben Youngs [268]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [94]
2 Julián Montoya [8]
3 Dan Cole [269]
4 Harry Wells [129]
5 Calum Green [64]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (vc) [41]
7 Marco van Staden [2]
8 Jasper Wiese [21]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Nic Dolly [7]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [46]
18 Joe Heyes [75]
19 George Martin [21]
20 Tommy Reffell [51]
21 Richard Wigglesworth [17]
22 Freddie Burns [80]
23 Matías Moroni [18]
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Kieran Wilkinson, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Jono Ross (c), 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Sam James
