Leicester go all-Welsh in back-row; last-minute loan signing set for debut

Summer signing Aaron Wainwright will make his competitive Leicester debut at home to Saracens at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Sunday with a couple of familiar faces around him in the back-row.

Wainwright, an exciting addition from the Dragons, is named at blindside, with fellow Welsh internationals, Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell, at seven and eight.

Elsewhere in the forward pack, Mako Vunipola makes his first home appearance against his former club at loosehead prop, with Samiuela Moli at hooker. Joe Heyes makes his return to the Tigers line-up as the tighthead prop.

Finn Carnduff, fresh from renewing his contract with the club, and Cameron Henderson make up the second row.

Freddie Steward comes back into the starting lineup at full-back, with the wing pairing of Adam Radwan and Gabriel Hamer-Webb unchanged from the side that faced Newcastle Red Bulls in the PREM Cup. Ollie Hassell-Collins has to be content with a place on the bench

Solomone Kata and Joseph Woodward are the centres, with Orlando Bailey acting as cover, while Billy Searle and Jack van Poortvliet start at fly-half and scrum-half respectively.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

25

23

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

60%

Amongst the replacements are Corbin Thunder, who is on a short-term loan from Sale FC, and Joaquin Moro who returns from international duty with Argentina.

The match is heading towards a near-sellout, with 85% of tickets sold to date.

“We’re excited to have our first PREM game of the season at home in front of our fans and against Saracens,” said head coach Geoff Parling.

“They are always important, but we know that the collisions on both sides of the ball will decide who can drive their game and exert the most pressure.”

Leicester Tigers team vs Saracens (club appearances):

15. Freddie Steward (131)
14. Adam Radwan (34)
13. Solomone Kata (58)
12. Joseph Woodward (55)
11. Gabriel Hamer-Webb (16)
10. Billy Searle (25)
9. Jack van Poortvliet © (114)
1. Mako Vunipola (1)
2. Samiuela Moli (2)
3. Joe Heyes (183)
4. Finn Carnduff (20)
5. Cameron Henderson (88)
6. Aaron Wainwright (0)
7. Tommy Reffell (157)
8. Olly Cracknell (87)

Replacements
16. Corbin Thunder (0)
17. Tarek Haffar (21)
18. Will Hurd (79)
19. James Thompson (15)
20. Joaquin Moro (29)
21. Tom Whiteley (68)
22. Orlando Bailey (29)
23. Ollie Hassell-Collins (75)