Leicester Tigers to unleash Puma Moroni against Brive

Leicester Tigers are set to debut Los Pumas centre Matias Moroni in Friday’s Challenge Cup match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. The centre, who signed for the Tigers earlier this year, starts at centre alongside Scotland international Matt Scott. Prop Luan de Bruin is also inline to make his debut for the club.

Leicester will be without the services of veteran scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, who is one 13 Barbarians players who have been banned by the RFU for breaches of protocol which forced the cancellation of their match with England earlier this year.

Freddie Steward continues at full-back, with Fiji international duo Kini Murimurivalu and Nemani Nadolo on the wings on their return from Test duty, while Argentina international Moroni makes his Tigers debut alongside Matt Scott at centre.

Zebo slams World Rugby over the Matera social media scandal:

Zebo slams World Rugby over the Matera social media scandal:

Joaquín Díaz Bonilla and Ben White start at half-back after appearances from the bench in each of the first three games in the domestic season.

Club captain Tom Youngs is in the centre of the front row and is joined by Nephi Leatigaga and Joe Heyes, who makes his 50th first-team appearance for the club.

Tomás Lavanini returns from an injury picked up in the semi-final of this competition last season to join Harry Wells at lock, with Jordan Taufua starting in the back row alongside Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese.

Former South Africa Under-20s prop De Bruin joins Charlie Clare, Calum Green and Cyle Brink among the replacements where there is also a place for Guy Porter and England internationals Ellis Genge, Ben Youngs and George Ford.

Leicester Tigers versus Brive
15 Freddie Steward
14 Kini Murimurivalu
13 Matias Moroni
12 Matt Scott
11 Nemani Nadolo
10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla
9 Ben White
1 Nephi Leatigaga
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Joe Heyes
4 Harry Wells
5 Tomás Lavanini
6 Hanro Liebenberg
7 Jordan Taufua
8 Jasper Wiese

RESERVES:
16 Charlie Clare
17 Ellis Genge
18 Luan De Bruin
19 Calum Green
20 Cyle Brink
21 Ben Youngs
22 George Ford
23 Guy Porter

Match details: Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Friday 7.45pm