Ojo, Tagicakibau start against Leeds
Fri, 02 May 2008 14:13
Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau, try-scorers for London Irish in last Saturday's Heineken Cup semifinal loss against Toulouse, feature in the Exiles' starting line-up for the Guinness Premiership encounter with Leeds Carnegie at Madejski Stadium on Sunday.
The two wingers, who received wide acclaim for their individual contributions to an outstanding team performance in last week's match, will be hoping for a repeat contribution as Irish seek the points that will keep their hopes for qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup alive.
At present London Irish are in seventh place in the Premiership table and need to finish in sixth to secure a place in Europe's premier club tournament.
Irish make six personnel and one positional change to the team that started at Twickenham last weekend.
Among the backs Eoghan Hickey starts at flyhalf, with Tomas De Vedia coming in on the right wing - as Ojo switches to fullback.
There are three changes to the pack.
Clarke Dermody starts at loosehead prop, with James Hudson coming into the second row.
Richard Thorpe returns at No 8.
Exiles boss Brian Smith is wary of the threat pose by the relegation-bound Leeds side.
"Have no doubt that Stuart Lancaster's team will be doing all in their power to prevent us taking the points on Sunday," said the London Irish Director of Rugby, Smith.
"Leeds are a courageous and talented side. They have faced adversity all season and they've just kept going which speaks volumes for their professionalism and character.
"Having tasted and enjoyed competing with the elite of Europe we want to repeat the experience as often as possible. If we're to do that next season then we need to win on Sunday afternoon.
"A win will enable us to travel to Sale next Saturday to play for sixth place and another crack at Europe.
"We're not at full strength – Delon Armitage [foot], Warren Fury [ankle], Nick Kennedy [foot], Kieran Roche [neck], Dominic Shabbo [leg], Richard Skuse [neck] and Gonzalo Tiesi [ankle] are missing, but we are confident that the team will give of their best in front of our home supporters for the final time this season," Smith concluded.
London Irish: 15 Topsy Ojo, 14 Tomas De Vedia, 13 Peter Richards, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Eoghan Hickey, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Bob Casey (captain), 4 James Hudson, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody,
Replacements: 16 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 17 Stuart Mackie, 18 Gary Johnson, 19 Phil Murphy, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Peter Hewat, 22 Shane Geraghty.
Date: Sunday, May 4
Venue: Madejski Stadium, London
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Sean Davey
Touch judges:
Bob Mullis, David Kurk
Assessor: Paul Bridgman
TMO: Brian Abrahams
