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Leicester Tigers to unleash Puma Moroni against Brive

10 Dec 2020

Matias Moroni (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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.

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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

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Comments on RugbyPass

RedWarriors 25 minutes ago

Jordie Barrett produces man-of-the-match showing after benching drama

Serious mistake omitting Barrett for NH. Serious questions remain why the predictable curve balls available to NH against the rush defense were not mitigated for in advance. Leinster did not get tested for the first two rounds but the test was coming.

Look also at the incorrect decision re taking 3 points after the O’Brien ‘penalty where it lands’. The same conference has been happenning for years with the correct decision not often found.

In the URC v Connaught a kick to the corner refusing ane asy kick lead to a Connacht turnover and yellow for Leinster. Connacht scored a try and attacked again for the match against 14. They created an overlap and the tackle of the match saved them before the overlap could be cashed in. Leinster had another kickable penalty and amazingly the conference started again. Barrett ordered a kick at goal to put it out of reach. He was the man who had also saved/won the match for them with that penalty.

Why was this botched decision making not reviewed and eliminated in that match?

It honestly looks like the leadership hole left by Johnny Sexton has not been filled by the coaching group.

3 Go to comments

BA 49 minutes ago

An England 23 Borthwick could pick after the Lions squad announcement

If England can beat Pumas over there without their top guns would be big scalp especially if Pumas are at full noise

8 Go to comments

Carlos 2 hours ago

Why ‘the curse of the Bambino’ is still stronger than ever at Leinster

Felipe and Manuel went to Cardinal Newman school and rugby club, ran by Irish priests. One of them left to found St Brendan’s. Newman, St. George’s and St Andrew’s are the traditional upper class Anglo schools of Buenos Aires. Only Newman now sustains great rugby. St George’s previously did and St Andrew’s was a feeder to many clubs.

In 1970 Ireland toured Argentina and the team visited Hurling Club near the city and left them their kits at the end of the tour. The party was memorable. My mother and three brothers played field hockey for Hurling. Also, some of the players visited St Brendan’s.

Some years ago, I met Barry Bresniham at a rheumatology meeting. Sadly he passed away of a brain tumor. Barry was a very charming man and we spoke about that 1970 visit. St Brendan’s posted a picture of him on the front door of the school.

I do know about the Irish. I sincerely appreciate and enjoy Mzilikazi here, for example. But you sound like the Aussie fan OJ. Angry and defensive. Be like the Irish I know and not like a sourpuss.

200 Go to comments

Carlos 2 hours ago

Why ‘the curse of the Bambino’ is still stronger than ever at Leinster

I’m an Argie. We first scrum.

200 Go to comments

DC 2 hours ago

Farrell puts his reputation on the line knowing tougher challenges lie ahead

The Lions are a scratch team of players who rarely ever play together. For them to win, they need to be based on the best Home Nation (which still probably Ireland) with a smattering of players from the other nations.

Bare in mind that in 2001 they played the world champions. 2005 they played the greatest NZ team in the history of the All Blacks. 2009 and 2021 SA were the world champions. And NZ were the world champions in 2017. The only series the Lions have won in recent years was against Australia, who were significantly weaker than the other SH teams.

11 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

Hard to test them when they’re rested the week before or left on the bench, don’t you think?

2 Go to comments

JD 4 hours ago

Marcus Smith backed to beat rivals to Lions Test jersey

They are, except when it comes to 10.

Assuming Russell starts as test 10 you have no back up on the pitch. The only option is Kinghorn, but he would need to fill in there during warm up matches which is unlikely.

Only option is Smith in the 23 shirt. This again assumes Kinghorn starting 15. Based on current form that is the case.

Personally I prefer the conventional 5:3 split for the most part.

8 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 hours ago

Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

The point is the ‘Team are not pushing forward’. The team are better in absolute terms but the tactical coaching is poor. If Leinster are not being challenged and weaknesses exposed in matches then that has to be done in the training ground.

That said individual players must take flak. A lot of ire was directed at Snyman, but McCarthy must take flak too. That said what on earth was Keenan doing attempting to rush against Freeman (first try) and Ramm last try. Both times he was caught in no mans land leaving a field of green behind him. For the first try he just needs to hold his ground a little to cover the kick. An overlap was not on. Keenan would have easily reached Freeman, but rishing up made the grubber 100% on.

The Ramm one was equally bizarre. Now NH had caught Leinster short, but they have alot of work to do if Keenan holds his ground. Again he rushed up meaning one pass to Ramm makes the try.

Some players can be rested for 3 weeks, some get rusty. Keenan is one of the latter. But he must do better. All Leinster needed was one of those tries to be averted. Just one.

2 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 4 hours ago

As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?