News

Preview: London Irish v Bristol

Friday 28th March 2008

True to his word: Hill has made several changes to his side

Bristol Head Coach Richard Hill makes several changes to his side for Sunday's Guinness Premiership trip to the Madejski Stadium where they face London Irish.

Last weekend's defeat at home to Harlequins all but ended Bristol's chances of qualifying for the Heineken Cup next season and, after the game, Hill said that he would now look to rest some of the side.

The majority of the changes are made in the pack where Mark Regan, Sean Hohneck and Joe El Abd are recalled in addition to Iain Grieve, who will make his full debut for the club.

In the backs Rob Higgitt has recovered from the knock that kept him out of the Quins game and replaces Sam Cox.

The Exiles make four personnel and two positional changes to their starting line-up. 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 fly-half with Gonzalo Tiesi starting at outside centre. Topsy Ojo returns to his customary right wing role as Peter Hewat comes in at full-back.

Form: London Irish have suffered three straight defeats in the Guinness Premiership but have not succumbed to four successive reversals in the competition since season 2004/05. The Exiles' eight game winning run at Madejski Stadium fell to Wasps on 16 March. Bristol were defeated 15-28 at home to Harlequins on Sunday - their second successive loss at Memorial Stadium - but away from home Bristol have won their last two games at Leeds and Newcastle. Bristol won 14-11 when the two sides met at Memorial Stadium in the Guinness Premiership on 30 September, and are going for a first league double over the Exiles since season 1993/94.

The Teams:

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 (c), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 Stuart Mackie, 1 Tonga Lea'aetoa.
Replacements: tba

Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Rob Higgitt, 12 Neil Brew, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Joe El Abd (c), 6 Iain Grieve, 5 Sean Hohneck, 4 Nathan Budgett, 3 Jason Hobson, 2 Mark Regan, 1 Darren Crompton.
Replacements: 16 Scott Linklater, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Mariano Sambucetti, 19 Redford Pennycook, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Jason Strange, 22 Luke Eves.

Date: Sunday 30 March, 2008
Kick-off: 15:00 BST 14:00 GMT
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Referee: Dave Pearson
Touch judges: Andy Watson, Paul Emerson
Television match official: John Burtenshaw