‘It’s very exciting to be playing the Premiership and Euro champions’

TIGERS FACE HUGE CHALLENGE OF EXETER CHIEFS

LEICESTER Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick admitted there was excitement in the camp ahead of facing the all-conquering Exeter Chiefs this afternoon (3pm).

Following the disappointing defeat to London Irish last time out, Tigers have brought Guy Porter and Harry Simmons into the backline while Nephi Leatigaga starts at loosehead.

Otherwise Tigers are unchanged with the exception of Australian lock Blake Enever being named as one of six forwards on the bench.

Ben White and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla are the replacement backs.

“To be playing against the European champions, the Premiership champions, it’s very exciting,” said Borthwick.

“The great thing would be to have our supporters to watch the game.

“What they’ve done deserves enormous respect.

“For 10 years, they’ve been building, even more than that, they were building before they even came into the Premiership.

“They’ve been building each year and getting better and stronger and learning from the experiences and to get to where they are, they’ve done a fantastic job.

“For us, it’s an exciting challenge. We’re at the start of our journey and where we want to go.

“It’s a brilliant challenge and one we’re all really excited about.”

Borthwick stressed that his side must tidy up their discipline as firsthalf penalties proved costly in last weekend’s loss to the Exiles.

Today’s opponents Exeter are masters at turning close-range territory into points.

Borthwick said: “The first thing you do is do everything you can to not allow them to get to that point on the pitch.

“Then, again, the implications of the way the laws are applied, they do influence the defence in that area, so you need to be very smart with how you defend.

“They’re very good, they have a very big pack, they’re a very big team.

“They’ve been together a long time. If you look how long they’ve been building the way they play, it’s ten years. And they’re very good and very successful, and believe in the way they play.

“It has been ingrained over a long period of time. It’s a great challenge and we will do our best to meet that challenge.”

Will Witty is included in Exeter Chiefs’ starting line-up after Sam Skinner was recalled back to international duty with Scotland.

Witty is the sole change up front, while behind Stu Townsend gets his first start of the season at scrumhalf.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Guy Porter, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Harry Simmons, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 1 Nephi Leatigaga, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Cyle Brink, 8 Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Jordan Taufua, 22 Ben White, 23 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Facundo Cordero, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Tom Hendrickson, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Stu Townsend, 1 Ben Moon, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Harry Williams, 4 Will Witty, 5 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 8 Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 James Kenny, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Tom Price, 20 Richard Capstick, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Jack Walsh, 23 Josh Hodge.