London Scottish have named their side to face Andy Robinson’s Bristol Rugby in the final RFU Championship game of the season at the Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday 13th April (KO 3pm).
Director of Rugby Simon Amor has made minimal changes from the side that defeated Moseley 20-25 at Billesley Common two weeks ago. Tyler Hotson and Eric Fry return to the starting XV with double try-scorer Lewis Calder retaining his place at openside flanker.
Several of the Scottish matchday squad will be coming up against their former side when Bristol come to town, with prop Mark Irish, flanker Chevvy Pennycook and centre Andy Reay amongst that category in the starting XV. Replacements Josh Thomas Brown and Richard Bolt will also be looking to make an impact against their old team should they appear.
Scottish have named a familiar looking pack, with Irish, Kwasnicki and Fry forming the front row, Hotson rejoining his familiar second row partner Paul Spivey and Pennycook and Calder lining up on the flanks either side of skipper Mark Bright, who this week headed up a list of players to have re-signed with the Club for next season.
The back line will be sparked by the half back combination of Jamie Stevenson and Phil Godman, with Reay and Oli Grove completing the midfield. Miles Mantella, James Love and Jim Thompson make up the back three.
On the replacements bench, Nic Mayhew, Harry Allen and Colin Quigley will provide the front row options, with Thomas Brown making his return from injury. Young flanker Tommy Spinks, another of those who signed a new deal at the Club this week, will provide back row cover, whilst Bolt and Simon Whatling will be the back line replacements.
Simon Amor: “It’s going to be a massive challenge for us against a Bristol side that, certainly since Andy Robinson has taken over, have demonstrated such a dramatic change in the way they play. Bristol sides have traditionally always been very strong up front and their driving maul, in particular, can be a huge threat so we’ll have to be sharp in that area. The pace at which they play the game and the way they move the ball in attack will always pose some real questions for opposition defences and it will certainly be one of our sternest tests of the season.”
London Scottish side to face Bristol Rugby at the Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday 13th April (KO 3pm):
15 Jim Thompson
14 James Love
13 Oli Grove
12 Andy Reay
11 Miles Mantella
10 Phil Godman
9 Jamie Stevenson
1 Mark Irish
2 Adam Kwasnicki
3 Eric Fry
4 Paul Spivey
5 Tyler Hotson
6 Chevvy Pennycook
7 Lewis Calder
8 Mark Bright (c)
Replacements:
16 Nic Mayhew
17 Harry Allen
18 Colin Quigley
19 Josh Thomas Brown
20 Tommy Spinks
21 Richard Bolt
22 Simon Whatling
