Recap: Leicester Tigers vs Bristol Bears LIVE | Gallagher Premiership

Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Gallagher Premiership match between Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears at Welford Road.

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With just six points from their first seven games, Leicester will be minus Manu Tuilagi. The England centre has been suffering from groin tightness, although his absence is understood to be a precautionary measure.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy names James Olowofela on the wing and includes Harry Wells in the back row as the only changes to the XV that started in the draw against Harlequins at Twickenham last weekend. Sam Lewis, who started against Quins, misses out due to illness.

Bristol have won just twice on Leicester soil since 1987 and head coach Pat Lam said: “Leicester are getting stronger every game, all of their big players are stepping up and it is a tough place to go to.

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RugbyPass travelled to Brecon to see how life after rugby is treating Andy Powell

“To have a chance of winning away at Leicester, the quality of your preparation and training week is vital. Selection has been heavily influenced by those who have been able to train fully during the week, and we’re excited by the challenge we face.”

Dan Thomas returns from a groin injury to start, the back row being one of five changes to the side that suffered home defeat last weekend to Wasps.

‘There are hundreds of examples of good memories here that I will remember when the time comes’
– @ShazamHarrison talked to @heagneyl in the countdown to his last appearance this Saturday for @LeicesterTigers before he emigrates to Australia ?https://t.co/DBoMBTePiB

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 4, 2020

Harry Randall and Will Hurrell come into the backline, while Alapati Leiua switches to the wing. Ed Holmes is named in the engine room, while Jordan Lay is set for his first Premiership start of the season in the front row.

LEICESTER: 15. Telusa Veainu; 14. Jordan Olowofela, 13. Jaco Taute 12. Kyle Eastmond, 11. Jonny May; 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Ellis Genge, 2 Tom Youngs (capt), 3. Dan Cole, 4. Tomas Lavanini, 5. Calum Green, 6. Harry Wells, 7. Jordan Taufua, 8. Sione Kalamafoni. Reps: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Greg Bateman, 18. Nephi Leatigaga, 19. Guy Thompson, 20. Tommy Reffell, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Noel Reid, 23. George Worth.

BRISTOL: 15. Charles Piutau; 14. Toby Fricker, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Will Hurrell, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. John Afoa, 4. Chris Vui, 5. Ed Holmes, 6. Steven Luatua (capt), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes. Reps: 16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Dave Attwood, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Nic Stirzaker, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Luke Morahan.

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