Exiles keen to make a statement
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:09
London Irish has indicated its intention of returning to winning ways this weekend with the announcement of a strong line-up for Sunday's Guinness Premiership match against Bristol Rugby.
After an unbeaten start to the year the Exiles' have suffered reverses against Gloucester, London Wasps and Bath over the past three weeks.
The margin of defeat in the latter two games was narrow and Irish will be looking to take their chances, maintain their discipline and kick accurately as the foundation for success on Sunday.
The Exiles make four personnel and two positional changes to the starting line-up of the team that played away at Bath last weekend.
In the front row Tonga Lea'aetoa starts at loosehead prop with Stuart Mackie coming in at hooker.
Among the backs Mike Catt moves to flyhalf with Gonzalo Tiesi starting at outside centre. Topsy Ojo returns to his customary right wing role as Peter Hewat comes in at fullback.
"Bristol are a tough outfit, they love an arm wrestle and if the conditions are wet, that will help them," said Brian Smith, London Irish Director of Rugby.
"There are talented players throughout the team who will punish us if we let them. The pack is strong and we'll need to meet the physical challenge up front.
"We're not at full strength - Clarke Dermody, Shane Geraghty, David Paice, Peter Richards and Kieran Roche are missing, but we are quietly confident that the team will perform well.
"The contests with Bristol are always very tight as both sets of coaches know each other very well and there's great mutual respect between the teams," Smith concluded.
London Irish: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Mike Catt, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Bob Casey (captain), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 Stuart
Mackie, 1 Tonga Lea'aetoa.
Replacements: TBC
Date: Sunday, 30 March
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT
Referee: Dave Pearson
Touch judges: Andy Watson, Paul Emerson
Television match official: John Burtenshaw
