COV ON A REVENGE MISSION
ROWLAND Winter insists Coventry want to set the record straight today when they bid to erase the memory of their ‘worst performance of the season.’
Richmond were 22-5 winners when the sides met in October but Cov director of rugby Winter says his side will be primed for revenge in the rematch at the Butts Park Arena in today’s round 16 Greene King IPA Premiership clash.
“We had our worst performance of the season so far away at Richmond earlier in the season so we definitely owe them a better one this weekend,” said Winter.
“They are a good outfit whose setpiece is useful - but we learned a lot that day and a lot more Championship hardened now.
“They don’t get enough credit for what Steve Hill, his staff and team do with very limited time which will make Saturday a tough one for us.
“We’ve picked a team to raise the tempo and we hope we will see the benefits of that plus a very strong bench back in front of our home support.”
In-form George Oram switches to the blindside flank in the Cov XV. He joins Ben Nutley and Ben Adams plus locks James Voss and Alex Woolford in a back five offering plenty of pace, power and lineout options.
They pack down behind a front row featuring Samoa international Donald Brighouse, Scott Tolmie and new signing Gerard Ellis who makes his home debut on the loose head.
Behind the scrum, half-backs Pete White and Dan Lewis bring plenty of attacking verve inside a same-again centre partnership of Heath Stevens and Rob Knox.
Tonga international David Halaifonua, who wears No.15, is joined in the back three by Andy Bulumakau and the pacy Tom Emery. The 20-year-old returns from Northampton for a second loan spell having previously claimed six tries in 10 games during the Blue-and-Whites’ National One promotion campaign.