By Paul Smith 
Local product David Opoku is rewarded for his outstanding form so far this season with a place in Coventry’s starting line-up for tomorrow’s vital cup clash with Premiership champions Northampton (Butts Park Arena, 3pm kick off).
The Bluecoat School-educated winger, who has appeared from the bench in six of Cov’s seven league and cup games so far this term, now gets the opportunity to be part of the run-on team in front of a capacity Butts Park Arena crowd.
Injuries to full back Steff Davies allowed Opoku to enjoy extended spells on the pitch during his club’s recent cup wins over Nottingham and Leicester both of which saw the 21-year-old claim long-distance tries.
The introduction of the pacy winger is the only change made to the Cov starting line-up that claimed an impressive 19-33 win against Leicester last time out.
This means that two-from-two Cov, who seek to take control of the Premiership Rugby Cup qualifying pool with a win over the also-unbeaten Saints, again line up with the dangerous Charlie Robson at full back and the ever-present Ryan Hutler alongside Opoku in the back three.
This pair have both claimed four tries already this season as has fit-again Jimmy Martin who is named among a replacements’ bench that as usual also features six forwards plus scrum half Will Lane.
Tommy Mathews kicked four conversions on an impressive Coventry debut at Welford Road and the former Hartpury no.10 is again partnered by Josh Barton at half back.
Among the pack Fijian prospect Billy Nairau retains the starting shirt at loose head prop alongside skipper Jordon Poole and Matt Johnson.
Second-row Obi Nkwocha and no.8 Matt Kvesic join Hutler in keeping seasonal ever-present tags while the former England back-rower’s colleagues Aaron Hinkley and Tom Ball both face their former club.
Coventry head coach Alex Rae said last Saturday’s week off has allowed his players to recharge ahead of a game that promises to be a truly memorable occasion.
“We had a few bumps and bruises after a physical game at Leicester so having a break for a week has given the boys the chance to recover and rest,” he said.
“Northampton is going to be another brilliant game for us to be involved in. We’re taking the cup really seriously and are going all out to try and get a home quarter-final by winning our pool.
“Saints are one of my old clubs, they’re the Premiership champions and a team that are doing really well at the moment. It’s going to be a really tough game against a team whose style of rugby will put us under a lot of pressure so it will be a really good test of where we’re at currently.”
Coventry: Charlie Robson; Ryan Hutler, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Tom Hitchcock, David Opoku; Tommy Mathews, Josh Barton; Vilikesa Nairau, Jordon Poole, Matt Johnson; Obinna Nkwocha, Senitiki Nayalo; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Matt Kvesic.
Replacements: Suva Ma’asi, Jevaughn Warren, Eliot Salt, Rhys Anstey, James Tyas, Will Lane, James Martin, Chester Owen
Tickets for Cov’s home game in the cup against Northampton on Saturday November 23rd can be purchased at https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/matchday-tickets/
