London Irish v Coventry Rugby: Championship Cup quarter-final team news

[caption id="attachment_8424" align="alignnone" width="478"] Will Maisey makes his 100th Coventry Rugby appearance on Sunday (pic: Nick Meredith)[/caption]

Will Maisey makes his 100th Coventry Rugby appearance in Sunday’s Championship Cup quarter-final clash with London Irish (Madejski Stadium, 3pm).

The Kenilworth product partners Tom Kessell at half-back, while Rob Knox has recovered from the illness that forced him from the field last week at Bedford to join Heath Stevens in the Blue-and-White midfield.

Coventry’s coaching group have named a same-again trio in the back three, but opt to rotate a number of last week’s starting and bench forwards.

This means Charlie Beech joins Phil Nilsen in the front row alongside Samoan international prop Donald Brighouse who makes his first competitive start for Cov following his move from Otago.

With George Oram named on the bench, Tongan World Cup hopeful Dan Faleafa steps up from the blindside flank to partner Tom Jubb in the engine room.

This switch allows Australia sevens international Ben Adams to join Adam Peters and Ben Nutley in the back row, while Jack Ram is named among the replacements.

He is joined on the bench by four of last week’s starting front five plus exciting prospects Will Flinn and Dan Lewis who both impressed for their club’s development XV against the Army in midweek.  Coventry Rugby:

1. Charlie Beech

2. Phil Nilsen ©

3. Donald Brighouse

4. Tom Jubb

5. Dan Faleafa

6. Ben Adams

7. Ben Nutley

8. Adam Peters

9. Tom Kessell

10. Will Maisey

11. Andy Bulumakau

12. Heath Stevens

13. Rob Knox

14. Junior Bulumakau

15. David Halaifonua

Replacements:

16. Scott Tolmie

17. James Gibbons

18. Phil Boulton

19. George Oram

20. Jack Ram

21. Will Flinn

22. Dan Lewis 

Director of rugby Rowland Winter said:

“It’s nice to have a break from the league and to focus on a cup quarter-final at London Irish this week.

“We’ve had two really good performances over the last fortnight and feel we have taken positive steps forward since it was very pleasing to do well against Pirates and Bedford who are both at the top end of the table.

“We pushed Irish close when we played them last time – maybe they under-estimated us a bit – and we know a quarter-final at the Madejski is a tough test, but it would be nice to go down there, keep the performances rolling on and take another decent step forward.”

Watch Rowland speak to BBC C&W’s Alec Blackman about tomorrow’s match below:

https://youtu.be/Dtj1k04t1Ck

To view all Coventry Rugby’s video content subscribe to You Tube channel Coventry Rugby 1874.

Advanced tickets for the IPA Greene King Championship clash with Hartpury on Saturday February 9, preferentially priced at £18 (seated), £15 (standing) and £2 (ages three to 16) are available from the Butts Park Arena ticket office on 02476 231001.