Fly half Danny Cipriani starts for the RaboDirect Rebels as they face Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium tonight (Monday, kick-off 7.45pm).
The Rebels side to take on the Warriors is much changed from the one that faced Bath just three days ago. In keeping with the development nature of the tour, the starting fifteen contains six uncontracted players who will slot in alongside the likes of Nic Henderson, Michael Lipman and Danny Cipriani.
Rebels Head Coach, Damien Hill, was upbeat ahead of the clash at Sixways Stadium, and is looking forward to seeing what his young charges can deliver.
The development aspect of the tour is going really well,” Hill explained. “Overall, we’ve been pleased with the way they’ve come along. The Worcester game gives us a good chance to see how another four perform under pressure against really good opposition.”
With Pama Fou and Liam Windon retained in the side from the Bath fixture, Hill outlined the four in question. “Dave Hardisty will debut at nine, Lloyd Johansson gets his first start at inside centre, Nigel Ah Wong comes in at number eight and young Ben Matwijow at lock. We had four new faces have a run against Bath and now another four against Worcester.
Hill is preparing for a similar physical confrontation to the previous clash with Bath and is hopeful his side has adapted to the northern hemisphere rule interpretations. “We’re expecting a very hard, physical contest. The games we’ve watched of the Worcester team they’re very forwards oriented side. That gives them a lot of go-forward, and they look to kick with their speedy wingers. They’re a very talented, physical team, that has done well to come back up to the Premiership,” he said.
RaboDirect Rebels team to face Worcester:
1 Nic Henderson
2 Luke Holmes
3 Rodney Blake
4 Hoani Macdonald
5 Ben Matwijow
6 Luke Jones
7 Michael Lipman
8 Nigel Ah Wong
9 David Hardisty
10 Danny Cipriani
11 Cooper Vuna
12 Lloyd Johansson
13 Mitch Inman
14 Pama Fou
15 Liam Windon
Replacements
16 Eddie Aholelei
17 Heath Tessmann
18 Laurie Weeks
19 Hugh Pyle
20 Cadeyrn Neville
21 Jarrod Saffy
22 Sam Cordingley
23 Richard Kingi
24 Peter Betham
25 Stirling Mortlock
26 Lachlan Mitchell