Leicester pull Handre Pollard out of Premiership semi-final

Leicester Tigers have been forced to pull Springbok star Handre Pollard out of the team for their Gallagher Premiership semi-final clash with Sale Sharks.

The World Cup winner is an injury pull-up but it's not clear what the extent of the issue is.

A statement reads: "Leicester Tigers have been forced into a late change to the matchday squad for today’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final against Sale Sharks.

"Handré Pollard is out through injury and has been replaced at fly-half by Jimmy Gopperth, who was originally named among the replacements.

"Charlie Atkinson comes into the side on the bench in place of Gopperth.

"The Leicester Tigers matchday squad is otherwise unchanged for the knockout fixture at the AJ Bell Stadium."

Sale Sharks have lost just one of their last nine league matches against the Leicester Tigers, in October 2021 away from home. They are also on a three-match winning streak in the Premiership.

Tigers’ loss against Harlequins last weekend ended a six-match winning streak in the league.

NEW LEICESTER TIGERS LINE-UP:

15 Freddie Steward

14 Anthony Watson

13 Matt Scott

12 Dan Kelly

11 Harry Potter

10 Jimmy Gopperth

9 Ben Youngs

1 Tom West

2 Julián Montoya (c)

3 Dan Cole

4 George Martin

5 Cameron Henderson

6 Hanro Liebenberg

7 Tommy Reffell

8 Jasper Wiese

REPLACEMENTS

16 Charlie Clare

17 James Cronin

18 Joe Heyes

19 Harry Wells

20 Olly Cracknell

21 Jack van Poortvliet

22 Charlie Atkinson

23 Guy Porter