News
Preview: Worcester v Harlequins
October 01 2008
Harlequins will make only one change to the starting line up that collapsed at home last weekend against London Irish, when they face Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium on Thursday.
The only change to the starting line up appears in the forwards, where Chris Robshaw comes back in at blindside flanker, to replace the injured Nick Easter.
Charlie Amesbury comes on to the bench to replace the injured Tom Williams, where he joins Phil Davies, who makes his first appearance this season.
Meanwhile, young wing Charlie Fellows will make the first Guinness Premiership start of his career for the Warriors.
Fellows, a product of the thriving Academy system at Warriors, has already impressed off the bench this season and is now handed his chance with Chris Pennell ruled out with a groin injury.
Flanker James Collins is also ruled out through injury and so Kai Horstmann, Tom Wood and Netani Talei will make up the back row.
Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock also makes changes at half back with Matthew Jones handed a starting spot and Matt Powell coming onto the replacements bench.
"Charlie Fellows who is a fine young prospect who came on against Leicester and did really well," said Ruddock.
"He deserves his chance because he has been quite outstanding with our A team and has really put the yard work in. He has even been talked about for the England Sevens.
"If you remember this time last year we were talking about putting young Miles Benjamin in at only 19 and look what he did. I'm never afraid to blood youngsters if that is what we have got to do. Over the next two or three years the club will be stronger for the youngsters coming through."
Form: Worcester Warriors have slipped to successive defeats in the Guinness Premiership. This is the Warriors first ever competitive match to be played on a Thursday. Harlequins have also suffered back to back reversals to Gloucester and London Irish. Quins have gained at least one league point from each of their last sixteen Guinness Premiership matches since the 13-42 home defeat to Leicester on 7 January. Worcester have not beaten Harlequins in the Premiership since a 15-9 victory at the Stoop on 19 February 2005, whilst Quins have won on their last two visits to Sixways.
The teams:
Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Charlie Fellows, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Matthew Jones, 9 Ryan Powell, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Kai Horstmann, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson (c), 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Chris Horsman, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Graham Kitchener, 19 Matt Cox, 20 Matt Powell, 21 Loki Crichton, 22 Alex Grove.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 David Strettle, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Jim Evans, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 George Robson, 19 Phil Davies, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 Charlie Amesbury, 22 Waisea Luveniyali.
Date: Thursday, October 2
Venue: Sixways
Kick-off: 19:45 (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes