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Three England releasees return as Tigers name team for Saracens
By Sam Smith
Three released England players will feature for Leicester Tigers as they travel down to London to take on Saracens in this weekend's Round 19 fixture in the Gallagher Premiership.
George Ford returns to Premiership action to captain the team, while fellow England teammates Joe Heyes and Ollie Chessum both return to the team. Chessum who will make his first club appearance in six weeks.
Ellis Genge, Freddie Steward and Ben Youngs are ineligible for selection after spending the week in camp with England as the national side prepares for the final fortnight of this year’s Six Nations.
Borthwick has a new-look front-row, with props James Whitcombe and Heyes joining hooker Nic Dolly. The second-row duo is Eli Snyman and Calum Green, while Chessum in the back row alongside Tommy Reffell and George Martin.
“This is an exciting challenge for us, up against a squad of their calibre and experience," said head coach Steve Borthwick. “I am certain too that the return of Mark McCall this week, which is fantastic to see, has been a big boost to the players, coaches and entire club.
“Saracens have been the benchmark in English and European rugby for some time now and, in particular this group, have achieved a lot of success together for more than a decade."
Front-rowers Charlie Clare, Francois van Wyk, and Nephi Leatigaga are on the Tigers bench, with Harry Wells and Jasper Wiese picked as replacements. Ford and van Poortvliet, this week's captain and vice-captain, are the starting half-backs, while Matt Scott and Matas Moroni are picked together in the Leicester midfield for only the second time this season.
Kini Murimurivalu returns to the Tigers back-three following a six-week absence, with Harry Potter on the other wing and Freddie Burns at full-back. The replacement backs are Richard Wigglesworth, Guy Porter, and Nemani Nadolo.
LEICESTER TIGERS TEAM:
15 Freddie Burns
14 Harry Potter
13 Matías Moroni
12 Matt Scott
11 Kini Murimurivalu
10 George Ford (c)
9 Jack van Poortvliet
1 James Whitcombe
2 Nic Dolly
3 Joe Heyes
4 Eli Snyman
5 Calum Green
6 Ollie Chessum
7 Tommy Reffell
8 George Martin
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Charlie Clare
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Nephi Leatigaga
19 Harry Wells
20 Jasper Wiese
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Guy Porter
23 Nemani Nadolo
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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