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Ex-England ace Mike Brown to make first start of the season
By Neil Fissler
Mike Brown returns to the Leicester Tigers team for the first time this season for Saturday evening’s trip to face Premiership leaders Saracens.
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The Tigers have won their last two away games in the Premiership and have not won three in a row on their travels since 2021 and recall Brown, 39, in place of Freddie Steward who is resting ahead of England’s Autumn internationals.
Brown, the oldest player in the Premiership, has only made one appearance off the bench this season: at the end of last month, in a 20-15 defeat to Bath, the only time in the team’s last six games they have suffered a reverse.
The former England 15, who made over 350 appearances for Sarries arch rivals Harlequins, last started at full-back in the Tigers Premiership Cup defeat against Gloucester in March.
He started the final game of last season against Exeter Chiefs on the wing and scored a try in a 40-22 victory, but he is one of three players that Tigers head coach Michael Cheika gives a first start of the season to.
Tom Whiteley is preferred to Ben Youngs at scrum half, with the former England and Lions star, who has made 318 appearances for the Tigers, having to settle for a place among the replacements.
Tom Manz, who made his Premiership debut in last week’s win against Gloucester, starts in the second row, while Flanker Matt Rogerson will make his first appearance of the campaign off the bench.
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“The opportunity is over the next couple of games, even though they are at either end of the [Gallagher Premiership] break. The first one to Saracens, who are an excellent team. I am really going to enjoy these couple of games.
“These guys are getting an opportunity to play in a big game for us, and I am sure they will take it,” pointed out Tigers coach Michael Cheika.
Leicester Tigers: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Izaia Perese, Joseph Woodward, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Handré Pollard, Tom Whiteley, Nicky Smith, Julián Montoya, Joe Heyes, Harry Wells, Tom Manz, Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell
Replacements: Charlie Clare, James Cronin, Will Hurd, Côme Joussain, Matt Rogerson, Ben Youngs, Jamie Shillcock, Will Wand
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