Fine pre-season earns first Premiership start for Dolly
LEICESTER Tigers hooker Nic Dolly makes his first Premiership start this afternoon in the Gallagher Premiership opener against Exeter Chiefs (kick-off 3pm).
Signed from Coventry during last season, the 22-year-old made three appearances for Steve Borthwick’s team before enjoying a fine pre-season campaign in the absence of Charlie Clare (injury) and Julian Montoya (international duty).
On-loan Cornish Pirates hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie will make his Tigers debut from the bench as former captain Tom Youngs is not included in the matchday squad.
Dolly is joined in the front row by Dan Cole and Ellis Genge, who leads Leicester out for the first time in a Premiership fixture at Mattioli Woods Welford Road since being appointed club captain.
Vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg starts at No8, with Tigers Academy graduates George Martin and Tommy Reffell the flankers and Harry Wells and Calum Green are paired as the locks.
Ben Youngs and George Ford are the starting half-backs, with Dan Kelly and Matt Scott named as the centre pairing in the Leicester midtunity field. Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter are the wings in the Tigers back three with full-back Freddie Steward.
Among the replacements, Eli Snyman and Francois van Wyk are set to make their Tigers Premiership debuts. Nephi Leatigaga and Ollie Chessum are the other forwards in reserve, while Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Burns and Guy Porter are the replacement backs.
Previewing the season-opener at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Borthwick said: “We enjoyed the chance to be back playing in front of supporters during the pre-season and are pleased we have the opporto start the new season with them on Saturday We have had a good pre-season and laid some strong foundations for the campaign ahead, with a lot of hard work from each player on and off the pitch.”