Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to face Dragons Rugby in the first home pre-season fixture of the campaign.
The Leicester Tigers Head Coach has named a 28-man squad to welcome the Welsh club to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, including 12 players who will make their first appearance of the pre-season.
"The concentration is on how we can build our game going forward"
Hanro Liebenberg will lead the side at blindside flanker in his first run-out of the campaign, with Tommy Reffell at openside and Gareth Evans at No8.
Cameron Henderson makes a second successive start at lock, with Ollie Chessum moving from the back row where he started in the win over Jersey Reds to make up the second row.
In the front row, Nic Dolly is the hooker and James Whitcombe and Joe Heyes the props.
Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Burns are again partnered as the Leicester half-backs, with a new-look centre pairing in Dan Kelly and Guy Porter.
Kobus van Wyk will play his first game of the 2021/22 pre-season schedule on one wing, with Hosea Saumaki retaining his place on the other.
At full-back, Freddie Steward is named for his first outing since a summer which included a Test debut for the Tigers Academy product.
“We’ll do our very best to put in a performance every one of our supporters, at the game or watching on from home, will be proud of on Saturday afternoon.”
On an extended bench, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole are included for a potential first appearance of the new season among a forwards group that also includes Francois van Wyk, Eli Snyman and George Martin.
Jonny Law, Harry Potter and Fiji internationals Kini Murimurivalu and Nemani Nadolo are the backs replacements in line for a first appearance of pre-season and are joined by Dan Lancaster, Juan Pablo Socino and Jacob Cusick on the bench who all played in Jersey.
Discussing the matchday squad named, Borthwick said: “For us, the concentration is on how we can build our game going forward.
“Clearly, more players will play their first game of the pre-season this weekend and so there is the factor of getting them up to the pace of a match.”
Speaking ahead of the return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Borthwick added: “It’s fabulous to be back playing at home, but even better to be doing so with our supporters here cheering us on.
“We were fortunate to have had the one game last season with them in the stands and every supporter I have spoken to loved being back, so we’re glad they have that opportunity again this weekend.
“We’ll do our very best to put in a performance every one of our supporters, at the game or watching on from home, will be proud of on Saturday afternoon.”
STARTING XV:
15 Freddie Steward
14 Kobus van Wyk
13 Guy Porter
12 Dan Kelly
11 Hosea Saumaki
10 Freddie Burns
9 Jack van Poortvliet
1 James Whitcombe
2 Nic Dolly
3 Joe Heyes
4 Ollie Chessum
5 Cameron Henderson
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c)
7 Tommy Reffell
8 Gareth Evans
Replacements: Francois van Wyk, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Eli Snyman, George Martin; Jonny Law, Dan Lancaster, Juan Pablo Socino, Jacob Cusick, Harry Potter, Nemani Nadolo, Kini Murimurivalu
Dragons: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Owen Jenkins, 13 Jared Rosser, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Sam Davies (c), 9 Dan Babos; 1 Josh Reynolds, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Chris Coleman, 4 Joe Davies, 5 Joe Maksymiw, 6 Ben Fry, 7 Taine Basham, 8 Ollie Griffiths.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Aaron Jarvis, Mesake Doge, Ben Carter, Lennon Greggains, Lewis Jones, Evan Lloyd, Jack Dixon, Luke Yendle, Huw Taylor, Ioan Davies, Josh Lewis, Aneurin Owen.
Saturday’s pre-season fixture will be available to livestream for FREE via LeicesterTigers.com
