Rugby Lam makes six changes for French test
JORDAN Crane returns to the starting line-up as Bristol Bears face La Rochelle in the European Challenge Cup tomorrow (8pm).
Bristol have made six changes to the team beaten 35-22 by the French side at Ashton Gate last weekend.
No 8 Jordan Crane returns as cocaptain and will pack down alongside Nick Haining and Jake Heenan in the back row.
Sam Bedlow comes into the midfield, while Nic Stirzaker is selected at scrum-half. In the pack, Jake Woolmore and Shaun Malton are named in the front row and Ed Holmes returns at lock.
Luke Daniels is back from ham- string injury to be named on bench. He has been sidelined since the opening day of the season.
Head coach Pat Lam said: “We’ve selected an all English-qualified team to take on the challenge of La Rochelle – it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to continue to build the depth of our squad.
“Playing for Bristol Bears is a privilege and the men selected to perform on Saturday evening understand what is expected of them. It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere and an opportunity for the players to grow.”
Bristol Bears: Mat Protheroe; Tom Pincus, Piers O’Conor, Sam Bedlow, Charlie Powell; Callum Sheedy (co-capt), Nic Stirzaker; Jake Woolmore, Shaun Malton, Lewis Thiede, Ed Holmes, Joe Joyce, Nick Haining, Jake Heenan, Jordan Crane (co-capt). Replacements: Nick Fenton-Wells, Ollie Dawe, Jake Armstrong, John Hawkins, Sam Graham, Andy Uren, Tiff Eden, Luke Daniels. » Exeter’s misfiring Heineken Champions Cup campaign will fizzle out tonight if they fail to beat Gloucester at Kingsholm.
Despite losing just once in the Gallagher Premiership this season, Exeter have failed to win from their three Champions Cup starts.
Last Saturday’s home defeat against Gloucester left them adrift at the Pool Two basement.
And even bonus-point victories over Gloucester, Castres and Munster – two of those games are away from home – between now and mid-January might not be enough to progress.