Who should start as new season gets under way?
LEICESTER Tigers get their Gallagher Premiership campaign under way this weekend when Exeter Chiefs are the visitors to Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Here, rugby writer Bobby Bridge reveals the 23-man squad he would pick to tackle last season’s runnersup on Saturday afternoon.
froNT row bobby’s picks: 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Tom Youngs, 3. Dan Cole; Replacements:
16. Nic Dolly, 17. Nephi Leatigaga,
18. Joe Heyes
New captain Ellis Genge is a certainty to start and take the battle to Exeter Chiefs, both at scrum-time, and in collisions around the pitch. With Charlie Clare out injured and Julian Montoya away with Argentina, I expect head coach Steve Borthwick to go with the experience of Tom Youngs given who Tigers are up against. Similarly at tighthead, where it was surprising to see Joe Heyes miss out against the Scarlets.
If he is missing, we would likely see Leatigaga cover at tighthead, and Francois van Wyk in the loosehead short.
Nic Dolly, a star of pre-season, deserves a shot at the real stuff but Borthwick could be tempted by the experience of loan signing Tom Cowan-Dickie.
SEcoNd row bobby’s picks: 4. Harry Wells, 5. Calum Green; 19. Eli Snyman Similarly to my front-row picks, I’ve gone for the tried and test with Wells and Green. If you do not win the setpiece battle against Exeter, or at least match them, you’re going to struggle to win the game.
While I was tempted to put the impressive Cameron Henderson on the bench, having some South African muscle to summon from the replacements feels more appropriate given the task in hand.
back row bobby’s picks: 6. George Martin, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Hanro Liebenberg; 20. Gareth Evans
Assuming Cyle Brink is still out of the equation for the time being, and with fellow South Africans Jasper Wiese and Marco van Staden away with the Springboks, this is the most likely combination in my eyes. Martin brings the ball-carrying threat, high tackle count and incredible work rate Tigers will need - all ticks which also go against the name of Liebenberg.
Reffell was replaced at half-time against Scarlets, hopefully to wrap him up in cotton wool to be a menace at the breakdown and earn Leicester some turnover ball.
haLf-backS bobby’s picks: 9. Jack van Poortvliet,
10. George Ford, 21. Ben Youngs;
22. Freddie Burns
I toyed with this one, big time. While I do not think this is the way Borthwick will go, I think it would be a hugely positive move to start JvP first up. The youngster enjoyed a fine summer, captaining England to U20 glory and also skippered the friendly win over Jersey. There’s so much experience in this department but JvP is the man in form and can create something out of nothing.
Ford is rested and ready after a
Back threes rotate. Freddie Steward may not have a 15 on his back, but you’ll still find him in the backfield
summer off from international duties and, for the time being, the ten shirt is his to lose until Burns can wrestle it from him.
CEnTRES bobby’s picks 12. Dan Kelly, 13. Matt Scott
Scott is one of my first names on the teamsheet. He’s endured a pretty tough spell, having missed out on the Challenge Cup final and his Scotland recall was followed by a clean sweep of Covid cancellations this summer. But his try against Scarlets suggests there’s been no letup in his form towards the end of last season.
Kelly’s appetite for defence makes him a shoo-in at 12. This is Tigers’ best centre partnership in my opinion, while Matias Moroni is representing his country.
bACk THREE bobby’s picks: 11. Nemani Nadolo, 14. Freddie Steward, 15. Bryce Hegarty; 23. Kini Murimurivalu This was arguably the toughest area of the pitch to decide.
I’m still not fully convinced by my choices as I type this, as we’re leaving out the likes of Kobus van Wyk, Harry Potter, Hosea Saumaki and Guy Porter.
However, there’s something appealing about having a physical presence on both flanks to diffuse high balls. And let’s be real here, back threes interchange and rotate during the game. Steward may not have a 15 on his back but you’ll still find him in the backfield.
While tempted to put him in his primary position, having the kicking game and additional playmaker qualities of Hegarty is apealing, especially with the new 50:22 law in place. Murimurivalu completes my bench providing cover at centre, wing and full-back.