TEAM NEWS | Bower to lead Warriors in Oyonnax battle
Loosehead prop Ryan Bower will skipper Warriors this Saturday as they host French Top 14 side Oyonnax at Sixways in the European Challenge Cup (kick-off 3pm).
Warriors keep ten of the matchday 23 which took on Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership last weekend with just number eight David Denton keeping his starting place.
Denton forms the back row alongside Andrew Durutalo and Huw Taylor while Pierce Phillips and Darren Barry occupy the second row.
In the front row Bower is accompanied by Gareth Milasinovich and the tournament’s joint-top try-scorer, Joe Taufete’e, after the USA hooker bagged a hat-trick against Brive in October.
Ben Howard returns from international duty with England Sevens to start at full-back alongside wingers Tom Howe and Perry Humphreys, with all three having crossed the whitewash in their last appearances for the Club. Sam Olver and Michael Dowsett team up to form the half-back pairing.
Dean Hammond starts in the centre having scored six tries in eight appearances this season and is joined by Max Stelling in midfield, with the pair and Howard the only survivors from the side which last faced Oyonnax at Sixways in a 20-13 win in January 2014.
Stelling actually came off the bench in that match to score the match-winning try and he and his teammates will be hoping for much of the same as they look to push their claims for a top spot in Pool 5 where Warriors sit just three points behind Connacht Rugby.
Kurt Haupt returns to the squad among the replacements along with Simon Kerrod, Biyi Alo and Matti Williams while Jamie Shillcock is also on the bench after overcoming a knee injury.
Tickets for the game are available by clicking here, calling 01905 459309 or visiting the Ticket Office.
Warriors
15 Ben Howard
14 Tom Howe
13 Dean Hammond
12 Max Stelling
11 Perry Humphreys
10 Sam Olver
9 Michael Dowsett
1 Ryan Bower (C)
2 Joe Taufete’e
3 Gareth Milasinovich
4 Pierce Phillips
5 Darren Barry
6 Huw Taylor
7 Andrew Durutalo
8 David Denton
Replacements
16 Kurt Haupt
17 Simon Kerrod
18 Biyi Alo
19 Alafoti Faosiliva
20 Matti Williams
21 Luke Baldwin
22 Jamie Shillcock
23 Chris Pennell
| Competition: | European Rugby Challenge Cup |
| Venue: | Sixways |
| Referee: | Frank Murphy |
| Game Type: | Home |
| Fixture Round: | |
| Attendance: | 6,520 |
| No. | Name | T | C | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Ben Howard | ||||
| 14 | Tom Howe | 2T | |||
| 13 | Dean Hammond | ||||
| 12 | Max Stelling | ||||
| 11 | Perry Humphreys | ||||
| 10 | Sam Olver | 3C | 3P | ||
| 9 | Michael Dowsett | ||||
| 1 | Ryan Bower | ||||
| 2 | Joe Taufete'e | ||||
| 3 | Gareth Milasinovich | ||||
| 4 | Pierce Phillips | ||||
| 5 | Darren Barry | ||||
| 6 | Huw Taylor | ||||
| 7 | Andrew Durutalo | ||||
| 8 | David Denton | 1T | |||
| Replacements | |||||
| 16 | Kurt Haupt | ||||
| 17 | Simon Kerrod | ||||
| 18 | Biyi Alo | ||||
| 19 | Alafoti Faosiliva | ||||
| 20 | Matti Williams | ||||
| 21 | Luke Baldwin | 1T | |||
| 22 | Jamie Shillcock | ||||
| 23 | Chris Pennell | ||||
| No. | Name | T | C | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Silvere Tian | ||||
| 14 | Axel Muller Aranda | ||||
| 13 | Vincent Lasmarrigues | ||||
| 12 | Maxime Veau | ||||
| 11 | Tim Giresse | ||||
| 10 | Christophe Ruiz | 3P | |||
| 9 | James Hall | ||||
| 1 | Khatchik Vartanov | ||||
| 2 | Hika Elliot | 1T | |||
| 3 | Irakli Mirtskhulava | ||||
| 4 | Shay Kerry | ||||
| 5 | Christian Njewel | ||||
| 6 | Luc Barba | ||||
| 7 | Bilel Taieb | ||||
| 8 | Maurie Fa'asavalu | ||||
| Replacements | |||||
| 16 | Benjamin Geledan | ||||
| 17 | Kevin Buys | ||||
| 18 | Thomas Laclayat | ||||
| 19 | Geoffrey Fabbri | ||||
| 20 | Maxime Fucina | ||||
| 21 | Julien Audy | ||||
| 22 | UJ Seuteni | ||||
| 23 | Manuel Leindekar Virginio | ||||