They had second rower Joel Tomkins back in his makeshift centre role in the absence of Dan Sarginson and Iain Thornley, while brother Logan deputised at hooker for Michael McIlorum, who missed the end of last season because of injury and sat out here through illness.
Daniel Bowden, another former London Irishman making his first Leicester appearance in the crucial inside-centre role, went off with rib trouble, and the flanker Julian Salvi was substituted after a bang on the head.
For one thing, he has asked the powerful wing George North to bring his strength and size to the outside-centre role as a means of neutralising the Wallaby midfielder Tevita Kuridrani.
Farrell, who has been hampered by knee problems this season, made way at No10 for George Ford in the 28-9 win over Samoa and was shifted to No12 by head coach Stuart Lancaster who has now decided to recall Gloucester's Billy Twlevetrees to the inside centre role.
Yet there have been precious few public confirmations that Tuilagi possesses the passing, kicking and decision-making capacity to cope with the demands of the inside-centre role and we can only hope and pray that when pressed on this issue, the coach does not fall back on the old "you should see him in training" line.
I don't think you will see too many like O'Driscoll, D'Arcy or Matt Giteau in that centre role anymore.
In midfield, Jonathan Davies moves from his usual outside centre role to the 12 jersey, while Manu Tuilagi, who started at inside centre in Perth, reverts to his more familiar number 13 position.
"It is obviously a benefit that I have played a fair bit with him for our country," said Davies, who started the first two Tests in the inside centre role which Roberts will assume on Saturday.
There is a further positional change, with Jonathan Davies reverting to his more regular outside centre role, having started in the number 12 jersey for the first two Tests alongside O'Driscoll.
Marshall had only started five games for Ulster in the Pro12 before this season, yet he grew into the centre role and not only played 11 times, but also won three caps in the Six Nations.
