TEAM NEWS | Warriors make seven changes ahead of European decider
Head Coach Carl Hogg has made seven changes to the Warriors starting line-up as his side look to claim a quarter-final place when they travel to Brive in the final pool game of the European Challenge Cup on Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm CET).
Ben Howard comes into the side at full-back, while centre Jackson Willison and scrum-half Michael Dowsett are also recalled.
There are two changes in the front row as Ryan Bower is named at loosehead alongside hooker Kurt Haupt, while Alafoti Faosiliva and Matt Cox return to the back row.
Elsewhere in the forward pack, GJ van Velze will captain the side for the second consecutive game, while Darren Barry will once again partner Pierce Phillips in the second row. Simon Kerrod keeps his place at tighthead.
In the backline Hogg keeps faith with wingers Perry Humphreys and Dean Hammond, while Chris Pennell is given another game at centre. Jamie Shillcock will again line-up at fly-half.
A win for Warriors on Saturday would be enough for them to qualify for the knockout stages as one of the three best runners-up across the five pools.
Warriors currently occupy the third best runners-up spot, but the final pool tables could well look very different come Saturday evening as clubs battle to progress to the final eight.
If Warriors did reach the knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup, it would be the first time they have made it to that stage of the competition since 2009 – a year in which the Sixways side reached the final four.
Warriors
15 Ben Howard
14 Perry Humphreys
13 Chris Pennell
12 Jackson Willison
11 Dean Hammond
10 Jamie Shillcock
9 Michael Dowsett
1 Ryan Bower
2 Kurt Haupt
3 Simon Kerrod
4 Darren Barry
5 Pierce Phillips
6 Alafoti Faosiliva
7 Matt Cox
8 GJ van Velze (C)
Replacements
16 Jack Singleton
17 Gareth Milasinovich
18 Biyi Alo
19 Huw Taylor
20 Matti Williams
21 Luke Baldwin
22 Sam Olver
23 Tom Howe
| Competition: | European Rugby Challenge Cup |
| Venue: | Stade Alexandre Cueille |
| Referee: | Daniel Jones |
| Game Type: | Away |
| Fixture Round: | |
| Attendance: | 800 |
| No. | Name | T | C | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Gaetan Germain | 4C | |||
| 14 | Guillaume Namy | ||||
| 13 | Felix le Bourhis | ||||
| 12 | Seremia Burotu | 1T | |||
| 11 | Benito Masilevu | 1T | |||
| 10 | Nicolas Bezy | ||||
| 9 | Vasil Lobzhanidze | ||||
| 1 | Kakha Asieshvili | ||||
| 2 | Mike Tadjer Barbosa | ||||
| 3 | James Johnston | ||||
| 4 | Joe Snyman | ||||
| 5 | Jan Uys | ||||
| 6 | Etienne Herjean | ||||
| 7 | Poutasi Luafutu | ||||
| 8 | Sisa Koyamaibole | 2T | |||
| Replacements | |||||
| 16 | Thomas Acquier | ||||
| 17 | Demba Bamba | ||||
| 18 | Soso Bekoshvili | ||||
| 19 | Dominiko Waqaniburotukula | 1T | |||
| 20 | Peniami Narisa | ||||
| 21 | Florian Cazenave | ||||
| 22 | Sevanaia Galala Sekaia | ||||
| 23 | Thomas Laranjeira | ||||
| No. | Name | T | C | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Ben Howard | ||||
| 14 | Perry Humphreys | ||||
| 13 | Chris Pennell | 1C | |||
| 12 | Jackson Willison | ||||
| 11 | Dean Hammond | ||||
| 10 | Jamie Shillcock | ||||
| 9 | Michael Dowsett | ||||
| 1 | Ryan Bower | ||||
| 2 | Kurt Haupt | ||||
| 3 | Simon Kerrod | ||||
| 4 | Darren Barry | ||||
| 5 | Pierce Phillips | ||||
| 6 | Alafoti Faosiliva | ||||
| 7 | Matt Cox | ||||
| 8 | GJ van Velze | ||||
| Replacements | |||||
| 16 | Jack Singleton | ||||
| 17 | Gareth Milasinovich | ||||
| 18 | Biyi Alo | ||||
| 19 | Huw Taylor | ||||
| 20 | Matti Williams | ||||
| 21 | Luke Baldwin | ||||
| 22 | Sam Olver | ||||
| 23 | Tom Howe | 1T | |||