LONDON IRISH will line up for Saturday’s ‘huge game’ against Sale Sharks at Madejski Stadium with three changes made to the starting XV.
Out from the team which started last weekend’s eventual 12-6 reverse at Worcester Warriors goes Tom Cruse and Topsy Ojo, with David Paice and Tom Fowlie taking their positions in the front row and back line respectively.
The third change is an enforced one. Elliott Stooke has completed his loan spell with Exiles and returns to parent club Gloucester, so his place has been given to Jebb Sinclair.
Picking up a losing bonus point from the defeat at Sixways moved Irish to within four of closest rivals Newcastle Falcons at the foot of the Aviva Premiership table.
The pair are due to lock horns up in the north east on April 17, but the focus is very much on the visit of Sale, who were comfortable 38-10 victors when the two teams last met back in January.
The Sharks, however, make the trip south to take on an Exiles side whose four league wins to date have all arrived on home soil, and the hosts will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in Berkshire following the 23-18 triumph over Gloucester last time out.
Assistant coach Richard Whiffin is hoping the Madejski Stadium can be a fortress once again as the side enter what is a vital stage of the season.
He said: It is going to be a huge game for us at the Madejski, and we have been in good form there of late.
“We have won four out of our last five home games, and this weekend is an opportunity for us to get more points on the board going into the Newcastle game in a fortnight’s time.”
Whiffin added: “Every game is a cup final and we must approach every game with the right mentality.
“We just need to take our chances, which was evident during last week’s game at Worcester, a match that was there for the taking.
“We created enough to win the game, but we still had to fight back from being nine points down, so to come away with something was better than nothing.
“We started last weekend five points down and ended it four points down so ultimately we were positive in that degree – you’ve got to look at the positive side of things.”
The opposition, meanwhile, are still harboring hopes of sealing a top-six finish and a place in next season’s European Champions Cup.
And Whiffin, in particular, has identified two threats Irish will need to nullify – the half-back combination of Peter Stringer and Danny Cipriani.
“We know they are the heartbeat of their team – Cipriani has played all year and he attacks the line well, and has an outstanding passing and kicking game,” added the assistant.
“Stringer is an old head and knows how to martial the troops and get his forward pack moving well.
“We know that they have lynchpins in their side and anything we can do to disrupt that will aid us.”
LONDON IRISH: Maitland, Fowlie, Hearn, Williams, Fenby, Tonks, Steele, Court, Paice, Aulika, Sinclair, Symons, Narraway (c), Cowan, Treviranus
Reps: Cruse, Smallbone, Halavatau, Sexton, McCusker, McKibbin, Brophy Clews, Mulchrone.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
