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Watson and Gopperth to make Tigers debut this Friday
By PA
England back Anthony Watson will return to action after a 10-month injury absence when he makes his Leicester debut on Friday.
Watson lines up at full-back for the Premiership champions’ pre-season friendly away to Jersey Reds.
Watson, who moved to Tigers from Bath earlier this summer, has not played since suffering a serious knee injury in October last year.
The 28-year-old is joined in Leicester’s starting XV by fellow newcomers Jimmy Gopperth, Phil Cokanasiga and Olly Cracknell.
Included in the 30-man squad are eight players who will make their first appearance for the club on Friday evening at Stade Santander International.
Hanro Liebenberg leads the side for the first time since his appointment as club captain.
The new skipper starts at No8, alongside George Martin and Olly Cracknell in the Leicester back-row.
Starting up front is Charlie Clare at hooker, with Francois van Wyk and Dan Cole as the starting props.
Harry Wells and Eli Snyman are the starting second-row.
Tom Cowan-Dickie, Joe Taufete'e, James Cronin, James Whitcombe, Will Hurd and Nephi Leatigaga are the replacement front-rowers, while Finn Carnduff, Cameron Henderson and Sean Jansen are the fellow forwards on the Tigers bench.
Ben Youngs and Freddie Burns are the starting half-backs with Jimmy Gopperth and Phil Cokanasiga making up the Leicester midfield.
In the back-three, Anthony Watson makes his first club appearance at full-back alongside Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter.
Sam Edwards, Bryce Hegarty, Matt Scott, Joe Browning, Kini Murimurivalu and Lachlan Shelley are the replacement backs.
STARTING XV:
15 Anthony Watson
14 Harry Potter
13 Phil Cokanasiga
12 Jimmy Gopperth
11 Nemani Nadolo
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs
1 Francois van Wyk
2 Charlie Clare
3 Dan Cole
4 Harry Wells
5 Eli Snyman
6 George Martin
7 Olly Cracknell
8 Hanro Liebenberg (c)
REPLACEMENTS: Tom Cowan-Dickie, Joe Taufete’e, James Cronin, James Whitcombe, Will Hurd, Nephi Leatigaga, Cameron Henderson, Finn Carnduff, Sean Jansen, Sam Edwards, Bryce Hegarty, Matt Scott, Joe Browning, Kini Murimurivalu, Lachlan Shelley
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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