Harlequins v L Irish: Teams
Aviva Premiership high-flyers Harlequins will look to continue their perfect start to the season against London Irish in the LV= Cup.
Last Updated: 14/10/11 3:03pm
Aviva Premiership high-flyers Harlequins will look to continue their perfect start to the season against London Irish in the LV= Cup on Saturday.
Conor O'Shea has predictably made a several changes to his starting XV for the clash, but has opted against a total revamp of the side.
Tom Williams makes a return from injury at full-back, while Tom Casson and Ben Urdapilleta are named together in the centres and Rory Clegg and Richard Bolt form a new half-back partnership.
After making some impressive appearances from the bench, Charlie Matthews is given his first start and will form an all-England Under-20 second row pairing with Sam Twomey.
Will Skinner is back in the starting line-up for the first time since suffering an injury in the opening game of the season and will captain the team from flanker.
London Irish have retained much of the same pack from the win over Worcester last time out, with only hooker James Buckland and No. 8 Alex Gray coming in for David Paice and the suspended Chris Hala'ufia respectively.
In the back division, Paul Hodgson and Adrian Jarvis form a new half-back partnership and Jonathan Spratt and Guy Armitage start in the midfield, while the back three is unchanged.
"The LV= Cup presents a great opportunity to continue the momentum we have gained in the Premiership. It is a tournament we will be taking seriously and want to do well in," coach Toby Booth said.
Harlequins: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Seb Stegmann, 13 Ben Urudapilleta, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Sam Smith, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Richard Bolt, 8 Chris York, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 Sam Twomey, 3 James Johnston, 2 Chris Brooker , 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Olly Hauge, 22 Matt Hopper, 23 Charlie Walker.
London Irish: 15 Tom Homer; 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Guy Armitage, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9, Paul Hodgson, 8 Alex Gray, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Nick Kennedy (c), 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 James Buckland, 1 Max Lahiff
Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Mark George, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 David Sisi, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Joe Ansbro, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Ross Samson.