England 7s ace handed chance to shine
RYAN Olowofela will make his first start for Coventry as they look to continue their impressive home form against Yorkshire Carnegie today.
Director of rugby Rowland Winter and the coaches have rung the changes for today’s Round 13 game at the Butts Park Arena (3pm), with Olowofela starting on the right wing.
Olowofela has linked up from Northampton Saints, having coming through the Leicester Tigers ranks before starring for England Sevens team.
After making his England debut at the Rugby Europe
Grand Prix Sevens Series in Moscow in 2017, he progressed onto the World Series the following year and has been a regular fixture in the side ever since before joining Saints last summer.
With David Halaifonua unavailable due to suspension, ongoing injuries also rule out Max Trimble and Junior Bulumakau from the Coventry ranks.
Rob Knox moves onto the wing with Andy Forsyth and Tony Fenner coming into the centres. Up front there are starts for Luc Jeannot, George Oram and Senitiki Nayalo. With Ryan Burrows named among the replacements, the captain’s armband has been handed to Rory Jennings.
Also on the bench is Andy Bulumakau, set for his first action since January’s trip to Ampthill.
Yorkshire Carnegie sit bottom of the table, losing 11 games from 11, and taking a single point so far, against Coventry in their 66-26 defeat at Headingley in October.
Namibia internationals Darryl de la Harpe and Prince Gosaeb will make their debuts for Yorkshire, having joined prior to last week’s postponed match against Ampthill.
COVENTRY: 15 Dan Lewis; 14 Ryan Olowofela, 13 Andy Forsyth, 12 Tony Fenner, 11 Rob Knox; 10 Rory Jennings (capt), 9 Tom Kessell; 1 Gerard Ellis, 2 Scott Tolmie, 3 Luc Jeannot, 4 George Oram, 5 Nile Dacres, 6 Adam Peters, 7 Ben Nutley, 8 Senitiki Nayalo.
Replacements: 16 Joe Buckle, 17 Toby Trinder, 18 Phil Boulton, 19 Ryan Burrows, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Pete White, 22 Will Owen, 23 Andy Bulumakau.