HALANI AULIKA goes straight into the London Irish side for the Aviva Premiership curtain raiser with Leicester Tigers at Madejski Stadium on Sunday (3.15pm).
The 32-year-old, who had been representing Tonga at the World Cup prior to their elimation in the group stages, has been named at tighthead prop by coach Tom Coventry, who will be presiding over his first competitive fixture with the Exiles.
Aulika will line up in the front row alongside Tom Court and David Paice, with captain George Skivington staring in the second row, where he will team up with new signing Matt Symons.
Jebb Sinclair, Luke Narraway and Rob McCusker make up the back row.
Brendan McKibbin and Chris Noakes have been picked at scrum half and fly half by coach Coventry, who has paired Eoin Griffin and Tom Fowlie in the centre.
Topsy Ojo, Alex Lewington and Andrew Fenby will all start in the back three.
Replacements along the front row will be Gerard Ellis, Tom Smallbone and Leo Halavatau, with Eoin Sheriff and David Sisi covering the back and second row.
Scott Steele, Shane Geraghty and Fergus Mulchrone are the back replacements.
“Selection for the first match of the season is always tough and this is no exception,” said Coventry.
“The players have trained and prepared well for this match and, after a long pre-season, cannot wait to get out and play in front of our home supporters.
“Leicester provide us with a signifcant challenge and we look forward to representing the club and our supporters with pride.”
LONDON IRISH: Fenby; Lewington; Fowlie; Griffin; Ojo; Noakes; McKibbin; Court; Paice; Aulika; Skivington (c); Symons; Sinclair; Narraway; McCusker.
Reps: Ellis; Smallbone; Halavatau; Sheriff; Sisi; Steele; Geraghty; Mulchrone.
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