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Montoya to make first start for Leicester Tigers
Argentina international Julian Montoya will make his starting appearance for the Leicester Tigers, against Worcester Warriors at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday in the Gallagher Premiership Round 8 match.
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Richard Wigglesworth will captain the side. The scrum-half will be backed up by Fiji international Nemani Nadolo on the wing and club captain Tom Youngs from the bench. Wigglesworth partners Zack Henry as the half-backs, with international duo Matt Scott and Matías Moroni combining in the midfield.
An unchanged back three of Nadolo, Kobus Van Wyk and Freddie Steward completes the Tigers backline.
In the front row, Julián Montoya makes his first starting appearance alongside props Luan de Bruin and Dan Cole. After arriving at Tigers in mid-January, the Argentina international was used from the bench for his debut against Sale Sharks last weekend.
Montoya’s international team-mate Tomás Lavanini returns to the starting team alongside Calum Green in the second of three changes to the Leicester pack.
In the back row, Cyle Brink is included to form an all-South African unit alongside Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese. Youngs, who made his 200th appearance for the club in Round 7, is joined by Nephi Leatigaga, Joe Heyes, Harry Wells and George Martin as the forwards on the Tigers bench.
Fiji international Kini Murimurivalu is included alongside Jack Van Poortvliet and Johnny McPhillips as the replacement backs.
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“It’s important that this squad delivers an 80-minute performance,” said Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick. “We are all looking forward to the match and, as a coaching team, we are happy to have some continuity in our line-up and to have the chance to continue to work on the combinations in this Tigers team and build the relationships between guys who have not played a lot of rugby together.”
“Worcester are a good, tough rugby team with experience across the side and a good understanding of one another out on the pitch.
“We are going to have to play very well this weekend against a Worcester team coming to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on the back of a good performance in the last round.”
Leicester Tigers
15 Freddie Steward
14 Kobus Van Wyk
13 Matías Moroni
12 Matt Scott
11 Nemani Nadolo
10 Zack Henry
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Luan de Bruin
2 Julián Montoya
3 Dan Cole
4 Tomás Lavanini
5 Calum Green
6 Hanro Liebenberg
7 Cyle Brink
8 Jasper Wiese
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REPLACEMENTS
16 Tom Youngs
17 Nephi Leatigaga
18 Joe Heyes
19 Harry Wells
20 George Martin
21 Jack Van Poortvliet
22 Johnny McPhillips
23 Kini Murimurivalu
DETAILS: Welford Road, Kick-off, 3pm
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments