Kini ready to role again as 16th victory

LEICESTER Tigers have selected Kini Murimurivalu as a forward replacement on their bench to face Wasps tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

The full-back/winger was thrust into the role at late notice against Newcastle Falcons following the late withdrawal of Ollie Chessum and shone during his appearance from the bench.

Murimurivalu again will have the number 19 on his back as Tigers go in search of a 12th successive win of the Gallagher Premiership season that would see them match Newcastle Falcons’ start to their title-winning 1997/98 campaign.

Another triumph would also equal Tigers’ all-time best run of 16 successive victories in the 1983-84 season.

Focusing on his flexible Fijian, Borthwick said: “Last weekend a player dropped out on match day, through circumstances that cannot have been foreseen so I went to Kini, and I said ‘Kini, this is what I’d like you to do’, and he jumped at the chance, big smile on his face.

“I said to the team ‘this is what we’re going to do’, and all smiles. that’s a good attitude to have, and that’s one I want us to continue to have.

“[Kini is a] fabulous rugby player, great instincts, runs really well off nine, excellent defender, he knows how good he is around defending the breakdown as well, in terms of contesting the ball.

“The main thing about Kini is that he’s a fantastic rugby player so having him in the team, he’ll adapt.”

Borthwick’s back-row options remain limited with his South African trio of Marco van Staden, Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese all unavailable for selection.

The good news of Chessum’s return to the starting line-up is countered by George Martin – who started at number eight in the 31-0 win last time out – not being named in the squad.

It means for a second week running, Tigers only have four specialist forwards on their bench, including two hookers, Charlie Clare and Nic Dolly, with the latter also covering the back row.

Ellis Genge captains the side on the occasion of his 100th Tigers appearance while Jack van Poortvliet starts at scrum-half with Ben Youngs rotated to the bench, which has James Whitcombe as the replacement loosehead prop option.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s match at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Borthwick said: “Wasps are a team who are capable of scoring points from anywhere on the pitch.