Who will take on the champions?
Rugby writers
Ethan Clamp and Bobby Bridge
pick their 23-man Tigers squad for Sunday’s sell-out home Premiership clash against reigning champions Harlequins
BACK THREE
Our picks: 11 Nemani Nadolo, 14 Harry Potter, 15 Freddie Steward; 23 Kini Murimurivalu.
TIGERS will be able to call on the services of the man-of-the hour Freddie Steward after missing the last two Premiership fixtures being away with England.
The full-back, pictured, as expected by most Tigers fans, took to international rugby like a duck to water, scoring against Australia and South Africa whilst putting in the player-of-the-match performances in both victories.
Murimurivalu had an excellent couple of games during the Premiership Cup and will be banging hard on the door for his first Premiership start of the season.
But you cannot look past Nadolo and Potter – the Fijian and Australian have formed quite the partnership so far this season, linking in six of Leicester’s Premiership wins. Murimurivalu gets our no.23 shirt for his impact and versatility.
CENTRES
Our picks: 12 Dan Kelly, 13 Matt Scott
This is arguably Borthwick’s most difficult selection for Sunday’s encounter.
Kelly, Scott, Moroni and Socino are all of international quality. Whoever is selected will likely have to come up against one of the most destructive ball-carrying centres in the league in Andre Esterhuizen.
We’ve gone for the Anglo-Scottish combination of Kelly and Scott.
The two shut down the lethal blend of Manu Tuilagi and Janse van
Rensburg against Sale and will be asked to do a similar job this weekend.
HALF-BACKS
Our picks: 9 Ben Youngs, 10 George Ford; 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 Freddie Burns
Barring injury, this will certainly be Ford’s first game in a Tigers shirt since it was announced he was leaving for Sale at the end of the season.
But going on his form so far, which saw him win the Gallagher Premiership’s Player of the Month for October, this will not distract the England international from finishing his last season at Tigers on a high.
This will also be the first time Ford has lined up against Marcus Smith, the player that has taken his England no.10 shirt.
The scrum-half position is a little less of a certainty.
It would be tempting to put in van Poortvliet after his strong performances in the Premiership Cup that saw him captain the side during both fixtures.
But you cannot look past the experience of Youngs in such an important match, especially when it is likely he will line up against a rejuvenated Danny
Care. Van Poortvliet and Burns are our replacements.
FRONT-ROW
Our picks: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Dan Cole;
Tigers will be able to welcome back two international hookers for Sunday’s encounter.
Montoya was again outstanding in a fairly disappointing autumn for Argentina and will surely start, while Dolly will return to Tigers as an England international following his debut in the victory over South Africa.
Charlie Clare put in a strong 68 minutes versus Wasps, his first match following his injury that had ruled him out of the start of the season.
However, we have gone for Dolly for his outstanding try-scoring start to the season.
Captain Genge will hopefully have recovered from getting Covid a couple of weeks ago, and if fit he will unquestionably start.
Cole has starred in all eight of Tigers’ Premiership games so far and will be rested and recovered after his month off.
The veteran prop will be chomping at the bit to go up against his best-mate Joe Marler.
Leatigaga and Heyes get our replacement positions after both performed well during the Premiership Cup.
SECOND-ROW
Our picks: 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green; 19 Ollie Chessum
Ollie Chessum was arguably Leicester’s best player during the Premiership Cup, putting in two outstanding 80-minute performances in the second-row. It is so enticing to give him the nod again but you cannot look past the combination of Wells and Green.
It does feel harsh to leave out Snyman completely but Chessum
has to be in the 23 so gets our bench spot.
BACK ROWS
Our Picks: 6 George Martin, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Jasper Wiese; 20 Marco van Staden
Borthwick will be able to call on his Springbok duo of van Staden and Wiese after their international exploits.
Wiese will surely slot back into the number eight jersey after his three replacement appearances for South Africa over the autumn internationals.
It would be tempting to also slot van Standen back into the starting line-up but we have gone with Reffell.
Harlequins’ game is based on quick ball and who better to stop that than the break-down nuisance of the Welshman?
With no update on Liebenberg’s shoulder injury it is presumed he will miss out again.
Chessum has started the last two Premiership matches at six and with his good form you could see Tigers going with him again.
But we have gone for Martin, his ability in the tackle will be so important with Quins’ multiple strong ball carriers, while his ability in the carry is improving week on week.
Van Staden will add a big impetus off the bench with his carrying and defensive game while also maintaining a presence at the breakdown.
Our 23-man squad: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Nemani Nadolo; 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Jasper Wiese
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Nephi Leatigaga, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Kini Murimurivalu