Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the Heineken Champions Cup fixture against Bordeaux Bègles on Saturday (January 22) at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
"It will be a massive challenge for us on Saturday afternoon against what is a tremendous side coming to Mattioli Woods Welford Road"
James Whitcombe will make his first start in European rugby at loosehead prop, alongside Nic Dolly and Joe Heyes in the starting front row.
Charlie Clare, Ellis Genge and Nephi Leatigaga are the replacement front-rowers on the Tigers bench.
Ollie Chessum, who started last weekend’s away win in Connacht at blindside flanker, moves to lock to partner Calum Green in the Leicester second row.
In the back row, George Martin and Tommy Reffell are the flankers and Jasper Wiese is No8.
Eli Snyman and Harry Wells are included among the replacements.
Ben Youngs and George Ford are the starting half-backs, with Dan Kelly and Matt Scott paired in the Tigers midfield.
Ford will captain the side at fly-half.
In the Tigers back three, Hosea Saumaki and Freddie Steward are the wings and Bryce Hegarty the starting full-back.
Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Burns and Guy Porter are the replacement backs on the Leicester bench.
Previewing Saturday’s European fixture, Borthwick said: “Bordeaux are an incredible side, probably the best team in Europe, and a club that boasts a wealth of resource as you can see through the depth and talent within their ranks.
“It will be a massive challenge for us on Saturday afternoon against what is a tremendous side coming to Mattioli Woods Welford Road.”
STARTING XV
15 Bryce Hegarty [6]
14 Freddie Steward [47]
13 Matt Scott [36]
12 Dan Kelly [33]
11 Hosea Saumaki [6]
10 George Ford (c) [117]
9 Ben Youngs [273]
1 James Whitcombe [11]
2 Nic Dolly [15]
3 Joe Heyes [87]
4 Ollie Chessum [23]
5 Calum Green [75]
6 George Martin [28]
7 Tommy Reffell [62]
8 Jasper Wiese [28]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [39]
17 Ellis Genge [101]
18 Nephi Leatigaga [55]
19 Eli Snyman [8]
20 Harry Wells [140]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [34
22 Freddie Burns [86]
23 Guy Porter [30]
BORDEAUX-BÈGLES: 15 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Yoram Falatea-Moefana, 12 Rémi Lamerat, 11 Nathanaël Hulleu, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Maxime Lucu; 1 Jefferson Poirot (c), 2 Joseph Dweba, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 5 Jandré Marais, 6 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Pierre Bochaton, 8 Alban Roussel.
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Lekso Kaulashvili, 18 Lasha Tabidze, 19 Ian Kitwanga, 20 Pablo Dimcheff, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Matéo Garcia, 23 Federico Mori
