Challenge Cup: Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby line ups, news and stats

April 29, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

Leicester Tigers and Ulster Rugby are both bidding to emulate the four clubs to date – Bath Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Northampton Saints and Wasps - who have won the coveted double of the Challenge Cup and the European Cup.

Leicester and Ulster will be meeting for the first time in the Challenge Cup. The clubs have played one another 10 times in Europe’s top-flight with Ulster ahead by seven wins to three.

QUICK STATS:

• Leicester Tigers’ South African back row, Jasper Wiese, has beaten the most defenders so far this season with 18.

• Ulster fly-half, Billy Burns, and his back-up, Ian Madigan, as well as teammates John Cooney and Jack McGrath, are all Challenge Cup winners. Madigan and McGrath started for Leinster Rugby in the 2013 final against Stade Francais Paris while Cooney was a replacement, and Burns was also a replacement for Gloucester Rugby against Edinburgh Rugby in 2015.

TEAM NEWS

Leicester Tigers

Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to take on Ulster Rugby in the European Challenge Cup semi-final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Club captain Tom Youngs starts alongside Ellis Genge and Dan Cole in the front row, with Harry Wells and Calum Green making up an unchanged Tigers tight-five from last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership game against Northampton Saints.

George Martin returns at blindside flanker, which sees Hanro Liebenberg move to openside and Jasper Wiese retain his place at No.8 in the Leicester back row. Richard Wigglesworth, who missed last weekend’s derby, comes into the Tigers side at scrum-half to partner fly-half George Ford. Matt Scott is joined by Matías Moroni in the midfield.

Nemani Nadolo, who came off the bench to score two tries against Northampton, and Guy Porter are the wings and Freddie Steward is at full-back. Charlie Clare, Luan de Bruin, Joe Heyes, Tomás Lavanini and Cyle Brink are the forwards replacements, with Ben Youngs, Zack Henry and Kini Murimurivalu the backs on the Tigers bench. Speaking about the matchday squad, head coach Borthwick said: “The players selected for Friday have the privilege of representing their fellow squad members and our supporters in this exciting fixture.

Ulster Rugby

The starting team sees five changes to the side that featured in the =PRO14 Rainbow Cup opener against Connacht last Friday. Eric O’Sullivan and Marty Moore return to the starting front row, while Rob Herring is retained at hooker. Iain Henderson will captain the side and is joined by Alan O’Connor in the engine room. Matty Rea retains his starting berth at blindside flanker, with Jordi Murphy returning to the openside position, and Nick Timoney completing the base of the pack at Number Eight.

The starting back three remains unchanged; Jacob Stockdale is named at full-back, with Ethan McIlroy and Robert Baloucoune on the wings. Stuart McCloskey comes back into midfield to pair up with James Hume. John Cooney starts at scrum-half with Billy Burns at fly-half. Providing the forward reinforcements from the bench are John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell and Sean Reidy. Alby Mathewson, Michael Lowry and Will Addison will offer back line cover.

Line Ups

Date: Fri 30 April 2021

KO: 20:00

Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road