Worcester v Ospreys: Teams
Ed Shervington will line up against his former club as Worcester tackle the Ospreys in the LV= Cup at Sixways on Saturday.
Last Updated: 03/02/12 3:42pm
Hooker Ed Shervington will face off against his former employers as Worcester tackle the Ospreys in the LV= Cup at Sixways on Saturday.
Shervington is one of ten changes to the team that faced Saracens last weekend as Warriors head coach Richard Hill rings the changes ahead of the return to league action next week.
Tom Arscott moves to full-back and Marcel Garvey returns on the wing, while Dale Rasmussen is recalled to form with a new-look midfield partnership with Ravai Fatiaki. Andy Goode and Shaun Perry will combine at nine and ten.
The forwards feature six changes with only Sam Betty and Blair Cowan retaining their places following the Vicarage Road clash.
A new front-row will see Shervigton, who made 38 appearances for the Ospreys between 2006 and 2010, pack down alongside George Porter and Tevita Taumoepeau. Chris Jones and James Percival team up in the second row with Jake Abbott returning at openside.
"We have picked the strongest available team to us as we aim to continue our winnings ways on home soil in 2012," said Hill. "We've already beaten the likes of Gloucester, Banca Monte Crociati and Bath A at Sixways and so remain unbeaten here in all competitions.
Depleted Ospreys
Meanwhile, Ospreys are missing a total of 27 players through international duty, injuries and suspension.
As a result, coach Steve Tandy has been forced to put his faith in plenty of young players, but believes the contest will provide an excellent test of character for them.
"The win over the Dragons was very pleasing. We had a good training week and followed it up with a good performance," said Ospreys coach Steve Tandy.
"This weekend there's a different challenge for a team that is still pretty young. Going to difficult place like Worcester, a Premiership ground, where they will be against you, asks different questions of young players and we'll find out a bit about them.
"We can expect Worcester to be competitive in the scrum, they pride themselves in that area, and in the line-out. It's going to be a real test for this group of players."
home team: 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Ravai Fatiaki, 12 Dale Rasmussen, 11 Josh Drauniniu, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Shaun Perry (c), 8 Blair Cowan, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 Sam Betty, 5 Chris Jones, 4 James Percival, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 George Porter.
Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 James Currie, 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 19 Craig Gillies, 20 Richard Muagututia, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Danny Gray, 23 Chris Pennell.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Sonny Parker (c), 11 Eli Walker, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 James King, 5 James Goode, 4 Lloyd Peers, 3 Joe Rees, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Cai Griffiths.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Duncan Jones 18 Will Taylor, 19 Tom Smith, 20 Chauncey O'Toole, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Kahn Fotuali'i.