In fairness it's not just Manu who hasn't had his hands on the ball, his team-mates haven't either.

But they have a chance now with an attacking scrum just inside Tigers territory.

Manu Tuilagi hasn't had the opportunity to get his hands on the ball on his return to Leicester yet.

There's still plenty of time for the big man to have his say though.

It must feel strange for him being out there as an away player with his family having such a long connection to the club over the years.

Plenty of early pressure from Scarlets and they deservedly take the lead.

Captain Josh Macleod opted to kick one close range penalty to the corner but after Pau repelled the forward drive, the French side then infringe again.

This time, the hosts opt for an easy three points and Joe Hawkins does the honours.

Freddie Steward is stopped just short with a good tackle five metres out but the Tigers have another penalty.

Lots of pressure already.

Can they make it count?

Billy Searle decides against a tricky kick to the posts and puts it in the corner.

A good chance here if they secure the line-out.

Everyone in the stands is very well wrapped-up in what looks a very cold evening in Leicester.

Tigers have started well and could provide an early score to warm their fans up here.

They have a penalty for a high tackle inside the Bayonne half.

Time to get going in Leicester and Llanelli.

The final two matches of a busy Champions Cup Saturday are under way.

Bayonne centre Manu Tuilagi, speaking to Premier Sports: "It is amazing to be back [at Mattioli Woods Welford Road], walking around the city last night brought back the memories.

"What a place and one of the best stadiums in the world."

Pau coach Sebastien Piqueronies has opted for wholesale changes from the side beaten 22-17 by Lyon in the Top 14 seven days ago.

French international scrum-half Thibault Daubagna will lead the visitors after being named in place of former England player Dan Robson, but it's the name Carwyn Tuipulotu that will interest Scarlets fans the most.

The number eight spent four seasons with the Welsh side, even winning four caps for Wales at under-20s level, before leaving last year for a short stint with Saracens and then joining Pau.

Pau: Attissogbe; Arfeuil, Decron, Valentino, Butlin; Desperes, Daubagna (capt); Etchebehere, Delhommel, Arrieta, Jolmes, Capelli, Zegueur, Hewat, Tuipulotu.

Replacements: Rey, Seneca, Tokolahi, Liufau, Iosefo, Pelesasa, Robson, Mondinat.

After missing the tame derby defeats to Ospreys and Dragons, Wales full-back Blair Murray is welcomed back into the Scarlets line-up tonight.

Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel has also opted to bring in Archie Hughes at scrum-half in place of veteran Gareth Davies, who has been left out of the 23, while locks Jake Ball and Sam Lousi both come into the XV.

In another change from the New Year's Day defeat at Rodney Parade, Wales' Ryan Elias takes over at hooker with Marnus van der Merwe dropping too the bench, where he'll be joined a potential debutant in 18-year-old fly half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones.

Scarlets: Murray; Rogers, Roberts, James, Mee; Hawkins, Hughes; Mathias, Elias, Thomas, Lousi, Ball, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Hepburn, O'Connor, Price, Davis, Blacker, Leggatt-Jones, Nicholas.

The pre-Christmas win at Cardiff was meant to be the springboard for a big festive period for Scarlets.

Instead, they were then outplayed by Ospreys on Boxing Day before starting 2026 by being comprehensively beaten by Dragons. Dwayne Peel's side now lie rock bottom of the United Rugby Championship and suddenly, progression in Europe is imperative to their season.

Despite two defeats from two in Europe so far, a bonus-point win tonight - coupled by Pau getting nothing - would secure a place in the knockout stages.

Another deflating loss however, and not only will the sense of disillusionment grow around the Parc, but Peel will find himself under pressure.

It could be a season-defining night.

Harry Byrne speaking to Premier Sports: "It was special. I was delighted it went over. I said to Caelan [Doris, Leinster's captain] I wanted to take it and I felt like I wasn't going to miss that one despite hitting the post with the one before.

"It was a chaotic game. We wanted to play and keep the ball on the pitch, but they wanted to do it as well and it turned into a ding-dong battle. We wanted to back our fitness and we were able to inject a bit of tempo into the game."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hamer-Webb; Searle, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Clare, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (capt), Thompson, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Blamire, Haffar, Hurd, Moro, Ilione, Whiteley, Woodward, Pearson.

Bayonne; Spring, Lapegue, Martocq, Tuilagi, Hannoun; Boyle-Tiatia, Tilloles; Calles, Martin, Cotet, Iturria (capt), Garcia Iandolino, Leota, Marchesin, Ariceta.

Replacements: Bosch, Tumania, Tagi, Johnson, Traversier, Jantjies, Thompson, Rasal.

Image source, Getty Images

Bayonne centre Manu Tuilagi returns to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to face his old side Leicester Tigers.

Despite his family's 20-year association with Tigers, the 34-year-old left in 2020 after making his debut in 2009.

Wales flanker Tommy Reffell replaces Sam Williams in one of three changes to the Leicester starting XV that defeated Saracens.

Charlie Clare comes in at hooker for Jamie Blamire, while Gabriel Hamer Webb, who returns from a hamstring injury, is named on the left wing in place of Ollie Hassell-Collins.

Geoff Parling's side have yet to win in this season's Champions Cup after defeats by La Rochelle and Leinster, while Bayonne, who were thrashed by Harlequins in round two, are also without a victory.