Packet Sport
London Welsh coach makes five changes ahead of Cornish Pirates match
12:07pm Friday 27th January 2012
London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones makes five changes from the side which beat Bristol for Sunday’s trip to the Cornish Pirates.
The Exiles will be out to back up their impressive wins over the Championship leaders and Rotherham Titans, and inflict just a second home defeat of the season on the Pirates, whose only defeat at Mennaye Field came at the hands of Bedford Blues in October.
A try scorer against the Titans, James Lewis returns to the side at inside centre in place of Guy Armitage. In the forwards, there’s a double change in the front row with Billy Moss and Shawn Pitman coming in for Max Lahiff and Leo Halavatu.
There’s also a double change in the back row with Ben Russell and Michael Hills replacing Lee Beach and Mike Denbee.
The only change among the replacements sees Gary Johnson take the place of Kieran Low.
The two sides go into the game on the back of contrasting preparations. While the Exiles had a weekend off, the Pirates booked their place in the British & Irish Cup semi-finals with a 33-3 win over Nottingham.
When the sides met earlier in the season at Old Deer Park they could not be separated as Alex Davies’ three late penalties earned the Exiles a 17-17 draw.
Sunday will be the Exiles’ first visit to Mennaye Field since last season’s Championship semi-final defeat, when the home side came out on top 18-10.
London Welsh: 15. Alex Davies, 14. Liam Gibson, 13. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 12. James Lewis, 11. Joe Ajuwa, 10. Gordon Ross ©*, 9. Rob Lewis, 1. Billy Moss, 2. Saul Nelson, 3. Shawn Pittman, 4. Matt Corker, 5. Martin Purdy, 6. Ben Russell, 7. Michael Hills, 8. Ed Jackson.
Replacements: 16. Vili Ma’asi*, 17. Tom French, 18. Adam Brown, 19. Gary Johnson, 20. Jack Moates, 21. Will Hurrell, 22. Edd Thrower.