Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the Gallagher Premiership Round 7 fixture against Northampton Saints.
The Tigers head coach is without a handful of players for Saturday’s fixture at the cinch Stadium who have joined up with England team-mates ahead of the autumn international series.
Francois van Wyk comes into the starting side at loosehead prop, lining up alongside Julián Montoya and Dan Cole in the Leicester front-row.
Tom Cowan-Dickie, Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes are the replacement front-rowers.
Eli Snyman comes into the starting side to partner Harry Wells at lock, with Calum Green included on the bench as the replacement second-rower.
Jasper Wiese is at No8, with Marco van Staden at openside and Ollie Chessum at blindside flanker in the Tigers back row, while Tommy Reffell is named among the replacement forwards.
"They are a team who have played a lot of rugby together, have a great understanding of one another and clearly enjoy the attacking style of rugby Chris Boyd is renowned for as a coach"
Steve Borthwick on Northampton Saints
Richard Wigglesworth, who came off the bench in the win over Sale Sharks in Round 6, joins team captain George Ford as the starting half-backs, with Jack van Poortvliet and Bryce Hegarty included among the replacements.
If used, Hegarty will become the seventh player to make their Leicester Tigers debut so far in the 2021/22 campaign
Dan Kelly and Matías Moroni are the centre-pairing and Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter the wings.
At full-back, Freddie Burns makes his second starting appearance of the season, while versatile outside-back Kini Murimurivalu is included on the bench.
Previewing the game, Borthwick said: “Saints are a very dangerous team, with a fast and athletic group of players, who can cause issues for defences with their multi-phase attack.
“They are a team who have played a lot of rugby together, have a great understanding of one another and clearly enjoy the attacking style of rugby Chris Boyd is renowned for as a coach.
“Chris is an outstanding coach, with a very impressive record in the southern hemisphere, and has shaped this Saints group over a number of years into a very dangerous side.”
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Burns [81]
14 Harry Potter [20]
13 Matías Moroni [19]
12 Dan Kelly [24]
11 Nemani Nadolo [21]
10 George Ford (c) [111]
9 Richard Wigglesworth [18]
1 Francois van Wyk [3]
2 Julián Montoya (vc) [9]
3 Dan Cole [270]
4 Harry Wells [130]
5 Eli Snyman [4]
6 Ollie Chessum [12]
7 Marco van Staden [3]
8 Jasper Wiese [22]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Tom Cowan-Dickie [2]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [47]
18 Joe Heyes [76]
19 Calum Green [65]
20 Tommy Reffell [52]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [25]
22 Bryce Hegarty *
23 Kini Murimurivalu [24]
* denotes Leicester Tigers debut
SAINTS XV: 15 Rory Hutchinson, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Tom Collins, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Alex Waller (c), 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 David Ribbans, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Teimana Harrison, 8 Juarno Augustus
SAINTS REPLACEMENTS: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Alex Moon, 20 Alex Coles, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 James Grayson, 23 Tom Litchfield
