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Gallagher-Prime Minister
With Finn Carnduff picking up an injury in last weekend’s home defeat to Saracens, Leicester Head coach Geoff Parling has recalled giant Tom Manzo from his season-long loan at Cardiff.
Lifelong Leicester fan Manz, who stands 6’8, is now set to make his 25th appearance for the Tigers after being named on the bench for Saturday’s trip to Parling’s former club Newcastle.
Leicester head north with a starting XV that sees four changes from the first round.
James Thompson and Orlando Bailey come into the side after being substituted against Saracens last time out.
Bailey comes into the side at inside center to replace Joseph Woodward, with last season’s two-time PREM Player of the Month winner Will Wand having to settle for the 22 shirt, while Solomone Kata remains in the 13.
Gabriel Hamer-Webb starts on the wing after scoring a hat-trick of tries against Saracens, while Adam Radwan faces his former club in the No. 14. Freddie Steward is again the starting full-back.
The half-backs remain unchanged from Round 1, with Billy Searle partnering Jack Van Poortvliet, who is once again captain.
Mako Vunipola, Samiuela Moli and Joe Heyes form a settled front row, with the aforementioned Thompson and Cameron Henderson as locks.
The all-Welsh back row of Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell remains intact for a second week.
Leicester Tigers have lost their last six matches in all competitions since the defeat Sale 47-33 at CorpAcq Stadium in Round 16 last season. But Parling says they will have their work cut out for them to end that streak.
“Newcastle they’ve been open about how they want to play, and you can see the attacking threats they pose, so this is a great test of our work rate and defensive resolve.
“We go to Kingston Park knowing this is another opportunity to show how much we care about the guy next to us,” Parling said.
Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Red Bulls, Kingston Park, 7.45pm kick-off, Saturday 3 October (club apps):
15. Freddie Steward (132)
14. Adam Radwan (35)
13. Solomon Kata (59)
12. Orlando Bailey (30)
11. Gabriel Hammer-Webb (17)
10. Billy Searle (26)
9. Jack van Poortvliet © (115)
1. Mark Vunipola (2)
2. Samuel Molly (3)
3. Joe Heyes (184)
4. James Thompson (16)
5. Cameron Henderson (89)
6. Aaron Wainwright (1)
7. Tommy Reffell (158)
8. Olly Cracknell (88)
Substitutions
16. Corbin Thunder (0)
17. Tarek Haffar (22)
18. Will Hurd (80)
19. Tom Manz (24)
20. Joaquin Moro (30)
21. Tom Whiteley (69)
22. Will Wand (42)
23. Ollie Hassell-Collins (76)
