Leicester Tigers team to play Northampton Saints in derby
Aviva PremiershipFriday, 13 April 2018 at 13:25
Leicester Tigers make two changes to the starting line-up for Saturday’s derby clash with Northampton Saints at Welford Road as Tom Youngs and Matt Smith return to the team.
Club captain Youngs exchanges places with Tatafu Polota-Nau who starts among the replacements this weekend, while Smith comes into midfield following injury to Mathew Tait during last week’s triumph over Bath Rugby at Twickenham.
The only other changes after a fifth successive league win last week are on the bench where there are places for Ben Youngs and Jonah Holmes after their recovery from injury and for George Worth.
There are some notable landmarks in the starting team too with Sam Harrison and Graham Kitchener making their 150th appearance for the club and a 50th game in Tigers colours for back-rower Luke Hamilton.
Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor said: “We’re getting some bodies back from injury which allows us to pick from a position of strength for the run-in and that is going to be important in such a tight competition.
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“We’ve been on a decent run of results and had a good win at Twickenham last week but it means nothing if we don’t back it up against a very committed Northampton side.”
Saturday’s game is heading towards a second successive 25,849 sell-out at Welford Road. Only a small number of tickets remain on sale. Book in person at the Tigers ticket office, phone 0116 319 8888 or book online at www.leicestertigers.com/matchtickets
Leicester Tigers team to play Northampton
15 Telusa Veainu
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Matt Smith
12 Matt Toomua
11 Jonny May
10 George Ford
9 Sam Harrison
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Matt Smith
12 Matt Toomua
11 Jonny May
10 George Ford
9 Sam Harrison
1 Ellis Genge
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Mike Fitzgerald
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Valentino Mapapalangi
7 Luke Hamilton
8 Sione Kalamafoni
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Mike Fitzgerald
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Valentino Mapapalangi
7 Luke Hamilton
8 Sione Kalamafoni
Replacements
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Greg Bateman
18 Logovi’i Mulipola
19 Harry Wells
20 Will Evans
21 Ben Youngs
22 George Worth
23 Jonah Holmes
17 Greg Bateman
18 Logovi’i Mulipola
19 Harry Wells
20 Will Evans
21 Ben Youngs
22 George Worth
23 Jonah Holmes
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