Samoan star returns for Exiles
Inspirational centre Seilala Mapusua returns from international duty to start for London Irish in their Guinness Premiership home match with Worcester Warriors at Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Mapusua who was last season’s RPA Player of the Season, takes over from Mike Catt at inside centre. The powerful midfielder renews his partnership with fellow Samoan Elvis Seveali’i in the only change to the back line that played at Bath last weekend.
There are two changes among the forwards; both are in the front row where Dan Murphy and Paulica Ion start at loose and tight head prop respectively.
Tom Homer is named among the replacements having recovered from the ankle injury he sustained while playing against Cardiff Blues in the LV= Cup last month.
“We were delighted with our win in Bath last Saturday,” said Toby Booth, London Irish Head Coach.
“We want to take the good form we showed at the Recreation Ground into tomorrow’s match and return to winning ways at Madejski Stadium.
“Worcester are going well just now. Mike Ruddock and his team will be very pleased with their result against the Premiership leaders last weekend. The Warriors like to play with ball in hand and they have the players to do so,” added Booth.
“We are expecting another entertaining and competitive match.”
Worcester meanwhile have handed scrumhalf Jonny Arr his fourth start of his career.
Arr is handed the No.9 jersey with Ryan Powell ruled out with a rib cartilage as Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock makes three changes to his starting line-up.
Prop Adam Black will start in the front row, with Callum Black out with a calf injury, and wing Rico Gear is recalled for the clash at the Madejski Stadium.
Jack Gilding, Will Bowley and Ollie Frost all win places among the replacements and Scotland ace Alex Grove returns to the bench after the autumn internationals with Scotland.
“London Irish like to move the ball around and we have got backs that can do that given the right ball,” said Ruddock.
“But at the same time, both defences are pretty smart, accurate and difficult to breakdown so again it could be a close encounter.
“We haven’t got a great record of late at London Irish, but Newcastle went there and didn’t over respect them and got stuck into them.
“They defended strongly and competed at the breakdown. They really made life difficult for them and we have to learn from that and do the same.”
The Teams:
London Irish: 15 Jamie Lennard, 14 Peter Hewat, 13. Elvis Seveali’i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 John Rudd, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Peter Richards, 8 Chris Hala’Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Richard Thorpe, Bob Casey (captain), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 David Paice, 1 Dan Murphy
Replacements: 16 Danie Coetzee, 17. Clarke Dermody, 18. Alex Corbisiero, 19 Kieran Roche, 20 Jonathon Fisher, 21 Tom Homer, 22 Paul Hodgson, 23 Chris Malone.
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (captain), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Adam Black
Replacements: 16 Jack Gilding, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Olivier Sourgens, 19 Will Bowley, 20 James Collins, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Calum MacRae, 23 Alex Grove
Date: Saturday, December 5
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Time: 15:00 (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Assistant referees: Alan Biggs , Andrew Watson
TMO: Brian Abrahams
