Coventry Rugby v Richmond: Championship round 16 team announcement

[caption id="attachment_8624" align="alignnone" width="2766"] George Oram starts in Cov's No.6 shirt against Richmond tomorrow (pic: Rod Wetton)[/caption]

In-form George Oram switches to the blindside flank when Richmond visit the Butts Park Arena for tomorrow’s round 16 Greene King IPA Premiership clash.

He joins Ben Nutley and Ben Adams plus locks James Voss and Alex Woolford in a back five offering plenty of pace, power and lineout options.

They pack down behind a front row featuring Samoan international Donald Brighouse, Scott Tolmie and new signing Gerard Ellis who makes his home debut on the loose head.

Behind the scrum half-backs Pete White and Dan Lewis bring plenty of attacking verve inside a same-again centre partnership of Heath Stevens and Rob Knox.

Tongan international David Halaifonua, who wears the No.15 shirt, is joined in the back three by Andy Bulumakau and the pacy Tom Emery. The 20-year-old returns from Northampton for a second loan spell having previously claimed six tries in ten games during the Blue-and-Whites’ National One promotion campaign.

Director of rugby Rowland Winter said:

“We had our worst performance of the season so far away at Richmond earlier in the season so we definitely owe them a better one this weekend.

“They are a good outfit whose set-piece is useful – but we learned a lot that day and a lot more Championship hardened now.

“They don’t get enough credit for what Steve Hill, his staff and team do with very limited time which will make Saturday a tough one for us.

“We’ve picked a team to raise the tempo and we hope we will see the benefits of that plus a very strong bench back in front of our home support.”

Coventry Rugby:

1. Gerard Ellis

2. Scott Tolmie

3. Donald Brighouse

4. Alex Woolford

5. James Voss

6. George Oram

7. Ben Nutley

8. Ben Adams

9. Pete White

10. Dan Lewis

11. Andy Bulumakau

12. Heath Stevens ©

13. Rob Knox

14. Tom Emery

15. David Halaifonua

Replacements:

16. Phil Nilsen

17. Jamal Ford-Robinson

18. Phil Boulton

19. Dan Faleafa

20. Jack Ram

21. Tom Kessell

22. Will Maisey

Watch Rowland Winter preview tomorrow's match with BBC C&W's Alec Blackman below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv18tcjfKlA

To watch all Coventry Rugby's video content subscribe to You Tube channel Coventry Rugby 1874.

Advanced tickets for tomorrow’s IPA Greene King Championship clash with Richmond, preferentially priced at £18 (seated), £15 (standing) and £2 (ages three to 16) are available before 4pm today from the Butts Park Arena ticket office on 02476 231001. Entry without an advanced ticket is also available on the gate.