Tigers name strong side against La Rochelle
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Leicester Tigers have named their team for Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle at Stade Marcel Deflandre at 3:15pm GMT live on TNT Sports.
Tigers travel to the two-time defending champions sitting in second place in Pool 4 and on level points with Leinster.
Leicester welcome back England wing Anthony Watson and round one try-scorer Josh Bassett for the trip to France, with Ben Youngs partnering Jamie Shillcock in the halves.
Olly Cracknell and Kyle Hatherell rotate into the starting backrow with World Cup winners Jasper Wiese and Handré Pollard named in the finishers.
There’s also a place for centre Matt Scott, the Scottish international returning from an injury sustained in round one against DHL Stormers.
Leicester Tigers head coach, Dan McKellar said: “It’s great to get a few players back from injury this week and we’ll hopefully get a few more back over the next couple of weeks.
“To get a result the way we did in Paris in December was a great memory for all involved and it’s left us in good shape to throw everything at these next two games.
“La Rochelle, two-time defending champions at their famous ground; it’s a brilliant challenge for us and we’re looking forward to it.”
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]
