Rae: Great opportunity to lift rare silverwear
ALEX Rae sees the Championship Cup as a fantastic chance to lift silverware as he names a strong team for their second-leg quarter-final against Doncaster Knights today.
Coventry’s interim head coach is confident they can finish the job after last week’s impressive 35-22 win away at Castle Park.
Rae said: “How often do players win silverware? Regardless of it’s a cup that some people don’t have much time for, not many people end up with medals at the end of their careers, so if there’s an opportunity to do well and win games then we’re up for that.”
Rae knows they will be in for another tough game against a physical side that will be looking for vengeance.
He said: “We’ve given ourselves the best chance possible. Before the game if you would have offered me a 13point lead going into the second leg against Doncaster, I probably would have snapped your hand off.
“We’re expecting a hell of a battle up front which is what you expect against a team coached by Steve Boden. They’ll want to finish their season on a high.”
Rae has made four changes to his line-up. Captain Ryan Burrows has been forced to pull out with a leg injury and is replaced by Senitiki Nayaylo who returns from his successful Army duty. Hooker Jordan Poole takes the armband.
In the front row Matt Johnson is unavailable through injury, so Cardiff Met student Ollie Andrews is called up to make his debut.
An injury to Will Owen causes one of two changes to the starting backline as Andy Forsyth shifts in one place to 12, joined by the
electric Louis James at outside centre, while winger Sam AsplandRobinson re-joins the starting line up.
Doncaster have made eight changes after last week’s defeat and have named a strong team with numerous first teamers starting.
Head coach Boden has made three changes to his starting XV. In the backs, Alex Dolly, Connor Edwards and Kyle Evans return while up front, Conor Davidson, George Roberts, Sale Sharks loanee Cal Ford and Sam Graham come back in, with Graham captaining the side.
After an impressive league season, Knights finished second in the Championship and pushed eventual title winners Ealing all the way.