European Rugby Challenge Cup: London Welsh face Bordeaux-Bègles on Thursday
Last Updated: 23/10/14 10:33am
London Welsh have rung the changes to their XV for Thursday's European Rugby Challenge Cup fixture against Bordeaux-Begles.
With just a five day turnaround, Justin Burnell names a much changed side for the Round 2 game, which sees both the Exiles and Bordeaux searching for their first win in the competition.
Round 1 saw Welsh go down 28-18 to Lyon at the Matmut Stadium last Saturday, while Bordeaux-Bègles lost 15-13 at home to Edinburgh.
In the backs, James Lewis and Rhys Crane are the only survivors from the backline which started against Lyon, although Lewis moves from inside to outside centre and Crane from the left to right wing. Seb Jewell, Seb Stegmann, Olly Barkley, Nick Scott, Gordon Ross and Paul Rowley all come into the line-up.
In the forwards, Shane Cahill and Matthew Dobson retain their places in the front-row, with Taione Vea named at tighthead.
Dean Schofield partners club captain Matt Corker in the second row, while Peter Browne comes in at number eight. Ben West and Richard Thorpe maintain their starting places.
Meanwhile, Bordeaux have recalled wing Metuisela Talebulamaijaina to their starting line-up, with Charles Brousse moving into the centres in place of Felix Le Bourhis.
There is an all-new back-row trio of Matthew Clarkin, Hugh Chalmers and Louis Madaule while Jandré Marais and Julien Le Devedec come into the second-row and Francisco Gomez Kodela (tighthead) and Ole Avei (hooker) also start. Laurent Del Boulbes remains at loosehead.
London Welsh: 15 Seb Jewell, 14 Rhys Crane, 13 James Lewis, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Nick Scott, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Paul Rowley; 1 Shane Cahill, 2 Matthew Dobson, 3 Taione Vea, 4 Matt Corker (c), 5 Dean Schofield, 6 Ben West, 7 Richard Thorpe, 8 Peter Browne.
Replacements: 16 Koree Britton, 17 Ricky Reeves, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Daniel Browne, 20 Ben Pienaar, 21 Rob Lewis, 22 Tristan Roberts, 23 Chris Elder.
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Darly Domvo, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Charles Brousse, 12 Thibault Lacroix, 11 Lucas Blanc, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Yann Lesgourgues; 1 Laurent Del Boulbes, 2 Ole Avei, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 4 Julien Le Devedec, 5 Jandré Marais, 6 Louis Madaule, 7 Hugh Chalmers, 8 Matthew Clarkin (c).
Replacements: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Benat Auzqui, 18 Benjamin Sa, 19 Berend Botha, 20 Bertrand Guiry, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Blair Connor.