Student Torpey set for big test with Jamie
RICHMOND hooker Callum Torpey is relishing the prospect of going head to head with England and Lions star Jamie George when Saracens come to the Athletic Ground today.
Eighteen months on from making his Richmond debut against Darlington Mowden Park, 21-year-old Torpey will take on the best of British.
It is a prospect Torpey, a student at Oxford Brookes University, is taking in his stride as the National One winners meet the former champions of Europe off the back off a fine win against Jersey.
“I’m massively looking forward to the game,” Torpey told The Rugby Paper. “Any time I get to play after so long waiting is something to look forward to.
“The boys have been excited and we have had a good buzz going into all matches after a 30-40 week pre-season, so I just think everyone is able to enjoy themselves and looking foward to facing Saracens.
“It will definitely be a great learning experience being so young and playing against Jamie George. It is very much a case of thinking of it as only my next game of rugby, all I can do is focus on what I can do best and see how the game goes.
“It will be a moment to enjoy once the game is over, but right now I just want to focus on what I can do to be at my best and try and make things difficult for Saracens.”
Torpey adds: “We had a really good outing against Ealing in pre-season and then on the opening day of the season against Hartpury we didn’t put our best foot forward.
“Each week since then, we have managed to build some momentum with our performances against Cornish Pirates and Jersey – it is something we need going into this game.”
Torpey, who was playing in National Two South for
Bury St Edmunds two years ago, is one of three changes made to the Richmond pack. Prop Jimmy Litchfield and lock Alex Bibic step in for Kurt Schonert and Byron Hodge.
Tom Hodgson and Max Trimble also return to the starting line-up, with Chris Wolfe-Elder set to make his second appearance from full-back.
Saracens prop Richard Barrington will bring up his double-hundred, becoming the 16th player to reach the milestone in the club’s history.
Back in action after last week’s bye, director of rugby Mark McCall hands first starts to George, Dom Morris and Will Hooley while Scotland wing Sean Maitland is on the bench.