Doncaster Knights v Coventry Rugby: Team announcement

[caption id="attachment_9025" align="alignnone" width="5568"] Jack Ram in action against his former club in January (pic: John Coles)[/caption]

Coventry’s coaching team make two changes to the matchday 22 for tomorrow’s Greene King IPA Championship round 21 visit to Doncaster.

Former Knights centre Will Owen steps into Cov’s midfield for veteran Sam Tuitupou who battled through a full 80 minutes during last week’s agonising last-kick defeat at the hands of Nottingham.

Owen combines with skipper Heath Stevens in the centre outside Will Maisey who again partners Pete White at half back.

David Halaifonua, Andy Bulumakau and Max Trimble form a pacy back three who will look to exploit the fine Castle Park playing surface.

Gerard Ellis, who scored twice against Nottingham, is named alongside front row colleagues Darren Dawidiuk and Samoan international Donald Brighouse.

Alex Woolford and Scott Russell are the Blue-and-Whites’ preferred second row combination while Jack Ram, Ben Nutley and Ben Adams make up a pacy back-row.

One change among the replacements sees former Doncaster Knight Junior Bulumakau join scrum half Tom Kessell and the same five forwards who warmed the bench last weekend.

Coventry Rugby:

1. Gerard Ellis

2. Darren Dawidiuk

3. Donald Brighouse

4. Scott Russell

5. Alex Woolford

6. Ben Nutley

7. Jack Ram

8. Ben Adams

9. Pete White

10. Will Maisey

11. Max Trimble

12. Will Owen

13. Heath Stevens ©

14. Andy Bulumakau

15. David Halaifonua

Replacements:

16. Scott Tolmie

17. James Gibbons

18. Phil Boulton

19. James Voss

20. George Oram

21. Tom Kessell

22. Junior Bulumakau

Director of rugby Rowland Winter said:

“Doncaster beat us in January at the Butts in the league when we weren’t very well prepared after the Christmas break and they caught us off guard.

“So motivation is even higher than usual this week to get up to Castle Park and win. Over the last three years we haven’t lost very many games, so losing four on the bounce is not a good feeling and very much one we want to change.

“We’ve also had enough of losing away games and know there’s only two more chances to change that and give the fans who have travelled a long way and spent a lot of their money to support us this year something to shout about.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7OJNZv1arM