By Sian Haynes 
Cov’s match-clinching try against Carnegie earlier this season. (pic: Nick Meredith)
Coventry Rugby’s coaching group have named an unchanged starting XV for tomorrow’s round six Greene King IPA Championship Cup visit to Yorkshire Carnegie.
As a consequence of last weekend’s excellent against-the-elements second half which delivered a bonus point win over Doncaster, Cov have already secured a quarter-final spot.
Rowland Winter’s squad now seek to go one better by completing the pool one double over their Leeds-based opponents and in the process ensure the last eight tie takes place at the Butts Park Arena.
The blue-and-whites’ former Carnegie pair Charlie Beech and Phil Nilsen join skipper Phil Boulton in the front row at Emerald Headingley.
The in-form George Oram and Tom Jubb fill the engine room, while Cov’s coaching group have again named an all-Tongan international back row.
Behind the scrum Max Trimble, who seeks to add to the nine touchdowns claimed in his last eight games, partners James Stokes and the pacy Junior Bulumakau in the back three.
This allows Tony Fenner and Rob Knox to again combine in midfield outside half backs Will Maisey and Tom Kessell.
Cov’s only change to the 22 that beat Doncaster comes among the replacements where fit-again back-rower Ben Nutley replaces Scott Tolmie.
This means last week’s try-scorers Sam Tuitupou and Darren Dawidiuk are again primed to join the action from the bench as is on-loan Harlequins tight head Josh McNulty.
Coventry Rugby:
- Charlie Beech
- Phil Nilsen
- Phil Boulton ©
- Tom Jubb
- George Oram
- Latu Makaafi
- Jack Ram
- Dan Faleafa
- Tom Kessell
- Will Maisey
- Max Trimble
- Tony Fenner
- Rob Knox
- Junior Bulumakau
- James Stokes
Replacements:
- Darren Dawidiuk
- James Gibbons
- Josh McNulty
- Scott Russell
- Ben Nutley
- Pete White
- Sam Tuitupou
Director of rugby Rowland Winter said:
“We’ve already played Carnegie twice, and in the few weeks between the three games they have improved their squad by ten or 12 players.
“They have won four out of their last five, and Chris Stirling is building his squad towards the resumption of the league season.
“They’ll be high in confidence at their own ground and like us looking for a home quarter-final, so it will be a big game.
“We produced two much-improved performances at Doncaster and Nottingham, and with everyone buzzing from last Saturday’s win we are keen to keep building momentum before the league resumes.”
Watch Rowland discuss tomorrow’s game with BBC C&W’s Clive Eakin below –
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