Murphy shakes up midfield for Twickers clash
EASTMOND AND TAUTE TO FACE HARLEQUINS
LEICESTER Tigers make changes to their midfield partnership for the Gallagher Premiership clash with Harlequins at Twickenham this afternoon.
Manu Tuilagi and Noel Reid started at centre last weekend against Exeter Chiefs but fit-again Kyle Eastmond and Jaco Taute slot in against Quins as Tuilagi is rested and Reid moves to the replacements’ bench.
Will Spencer is not available having suffered a head injury against Exeter, so Calum Green reverts to the second row alongside Tomas Lavanini and Sam Lewis features at blindside flanker.
Guy Thompson remains sidelined due to a neck injury which sees Jordan Taufua continue at openside after an outstanding performance in that role last week. Back-row prospect Tommy Reffell is named on the bench.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Manu pulled up sore after a busy game last Saturday and a lot of carries, so we want to manage him during what is a long season and have decided to stand him down his week.
“Kyle and Jaco have trained a lot together this season and worked together in the midfield, so we’re confident they will partner up well for us on Saturday.”
Quins have switched what they bill as Big Match 12 from the Stoop to Twickenham Stadium and scrum-half Danny Care becomes the only Quins player to have played in every edition of the Big Game.
It is a repeat of his club’s first such occasion when the sides drew 26-26 in 2008.
Head of rugby Paul Gustard, the former Tigers player, has named an unchanged pack from the side that beat Wasps last weekend at the Ricoh Arena, with two changes in the backs.
American centre Paul Lasike replaces the injured James Lang at 12, while Fijian international winger Vereniki Goneva makes his first Premiership start for Harlequins against his former club.
Gustard said: “Big Game is such an important fixture for the club, and a special one to be a part of for not only the players, coaches and staff but also for the supporters who turn out in their numbers to enjoy an outstanding day of sport at Twickenham,.
“All that said, of critical importance to me and the players is the simple fact that it is the next game and the next opportunity for us to move forward with our collective performance and build momentum in the league.”
15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Tomás Lavanini,
Leicester Tigers:
5 Calum Green, 6 Sam Lewis, 7 Jordan Taufua, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements:
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Ben White, 22 Noel Reid, 23 George Worth.
1 Joe Marler, 2 Elia Elia, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Stephan Lewies, 5 Matt Symons, 6 James Chisholm (vc), 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Tom Lawday, 9 Danny Care (vc), 10 Marcus Smith, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 14 Cadan Murley, 15 Ross Chisholm.
Harlequins:
16 Jack Musk, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Brett Herron, 23 Gabriel Ibitoye.
Replacements: