Match Preview: Tigers take on defending champions La Rochelle

Leicester Tigers return to Investec Champions Cup action this Sunday as Dan McKellar’s side take on La Rochelle in front of a sold-out Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Indeed, the tests only get more tough from here as Tigers face the defending Champions this week before welcome Leinster to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on January 20.

Tigers sit in second place in Pool 4, level on points with Leinster with La Rochelle needing a win to kickstart their campaign after two successive defeats to start the tournament.

TEAM NEWS

LEICESTER TIGERS

Ben Youngs and Jamie Shillcock start together for the first time and Tigers welcom back Anthony Watson and Josh Bassett. Olly Cracknell gets his first start since round four of the Gallagher Premiership.

STARTING XV

15 Mike Brown [19] 14 Anthony Watson [18] 13 Dan Kelly [71] 12 Solomone Kata [10] 11 Josh Bassett [11] 10 Jamie Shillcock [16] 9 Ben Youngs [309]

1 James Cronin [25] 2 Julián Montoya (c) [50] 3 Dan Cole [316] 4 George Martin [72] 5 Ollie Chessum [51] 6 Matt Rogerson [13] 7 Olly Cracknell [32] 8 Kyle Hatherell [11]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Finn Theobold-Thomas [5] 17 Francois van Wyk [44] 18 Joe Heyes [135] 19 Sam Carter [10] 20 Jasper Wiese [69] 21 Tom Whiteley [20] 22 Handré Pollard [23] 23 Matt Scott [71]

LA ROCHELLE

La Rochelle have named a full-strength side for Sunday's game, with captain Gregory Alldritt making his first Investec Champions Cup appearance of the season. 

STARTING XV: Reda WARDI, Pierre BOURGARIT, Uini ATONIO, Ultan DILLANE, Will SKELTON, Paul BOUDEHENT, Levani BOTIA, Greg ALLDRITT (cap), Tawera KERR-BARLOW, Antoine HASTOY, Dillyn LEYDS, Jonathan DANTY, Ulupano SEUTENI, Teddy THOMAS, Brice DULIN. 

REPLACEMENTS: Quentin LESPIAUCQ, Joel SCLAVI, Aleksandre KUNTELIA, Rémi PICQUETTE, Judicaël CANCORIET, Yoan TANGA, Thomas BERJON, Hugo REUS.