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Leicester Tigers to unleash Puma Moroni against Brive

By Online Editors
Matias Moroni (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Leicester Tigers are set to debut Los Pumas centre Matias Moroni in Friday's Challenge Cup match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. The centre, who signed for the Tigers earlier this year, starts at centre alongside Scotland international Matt Scott. Prop Luan de Bruin is also inline to make his debut for the club.

Leicester will be without the services of veteran scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, who is one 13 Barbarians players who have been banned by the RFU for breaches of protocol which forced the cancellation of their match with England earlier this year.

Freddie Steward continues at full-back, with Fiji international duo Kini Murimurivalu and Nemani Nadolo on the wings on their return from Test duty, while Argentina international Moroni makes his Tigers debut alongside Matt Scott at centre.

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Joaquín Díaz Bonilla and Ben White start at half-back after appearances from the bench in each of the first three games in the domestic season.

Club captain Tom Youngs is in the centre of the front row and is joined by Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes, who makes his 50th first-team appearance for the club.

Tomás Lavanini returns from an injury picked up in the semi-final of this competition last season to join Harry Wells at lock, with Jordan Taufua starting in the back row alongside Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese.

Former South Africa Under-20s prop De Bruin joins Charlie Clare, Calum Green and Cyle Brink among the replacements where there is also a place for Guy Porter and England internationals Ellis Genge, Ben Youngs and George Ford.

Leicester Tigers versus Brive

15 Freddie Steward

14 Kini Murimurivalu

13 Matias Moroni

12 Matt Scott

11 Nemani Nadolo

10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla

9 Ben White

1 Nephi Leatigaga

2 Tom Youngs (c)

3 Joe Heyes

4 Harry Wells

5 Tomás Lavanini

6 Hanro Liebenberg

7 Jordan Taufua

8 Jasper Wiese

RESERVES:

16 Charlie Clare

17 Ellis Genge

18 Luan De Bruin

19 Calum Green

20 Cyle Brink

21 Ben Youngs

22 George Ford

23 Guy Porter

Match details: Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Friday 7.45pm