FULL-BACK Ben Ransom insists London Irish will not take their foot off the gas despite securing top spot in the Championship table last weekend.
A 39-10 victory over Cornish Pirates in the traditional St Patrick’s Party ensured Irish will go into the end of season play-offs as the top seed.
But with three league games still to play, starting with a trip to Jersey Reds tomorrow, Ransom says the determination to be a part of those big games in May is providing extra motivation to the squad.
“Everyone is pushing each other hard for positions,” the former Saracens man told The Wokingham Paper.
“It is only a good thing for the team.
“Everyone wants to start on that first play-off game and show what they can do during the games coming up.
“Obviously the main aim at the beginning of the season was to finish top and get into the play-offs.
“We’ve got a few games left and we want to carry some momentum into the play-offs. We just take each game at a time.”
Nick Kennedy has again rung the changes with six alterations from the side which started last weekend.
GALLERY: Can you spot yourself in our St Patrick’s Party fan gallery?
Theo Brophy Clews, Ciaran Hearn, Scott Steele, Tom Court, Ollie Hoskins and Ofisa Treviranus have all been handed starts for the trip to St Peter with Ransom again starting at 15.
And Ransom, who scored two tries in the win over Cornish Pirates, is expecting a bruising battle against the Channel Islanders.
“I remember from last time and from reviewing their games that they’ve got a big old pack,” he said.
“So I think they’re going to be physical up front and try to dominate us physically.
“I think for us first and foremost it’s going to be about winning the collisions.”
He added: “I’ve played there before when I was at Bedford and it’s a tough place to go and play.
“We’re going to be flying over on Friday night and staying over so it’s something a bit different for us as well.
“They’re hunting a play-off spot so they’ve got everything to play for.”
The victory over Cornish Pirates extended Exiles’ winning run to 17 from 17 in the league.
And Ransom, who is approaching the end of his first year with the club, praised his team-mates for their response to being relegated from the Premiership.
“The guys here have got a point to prove from last year,” he said.
“They have stepped up to the mark this year.
“It would have been easy to slack off when they get to the Championship, but I think the fact we haven’t lost this year, everyone is trying to push, go forward and I think we’re in a very good place at the moment going towards the play-offs.”
LONDON IRISH XV v Jersey: Ransom, Lewington, Hearn, Brophy Clews, Ojo, Marshall, Steele; Court, Paice (c), Hoskins, Robson, De Chaves, Narraway, Cowan, Treviranus.
Reps: Porecki, Hobbs-Awoyemi, Chawatama, Sexton, Nayalo, Allinson, Tikoirotuma
