COVENTRY rugby have rewarded academy product David Opoku with a starting berth against Premiership champions Northampton Saints at Butts Park Arena.
Opoku will start the Premiership Rugby Cup clash from the off following his superb start to the campaign.
He has appeared from the bench in six of Cov’s seven matches in all competitions this season.
The 21-year-old enjoyed extended spells on the pitch against both Nottingham and Leicester Tigers and scored tries in both matches.
Opoku’s inclusion in the starting team is the only change to Cov’s starting line-up from the side which claimed a memorable 33-19 win against Leicester Tigers last time out.
Cov again line-up with Charlie Robson at full back and the ever-present Ryan Hutler alongside Opoku in the back three.
Fit-again Jimmy Martin is among a replacements bench which features six forwards plus scrum half Will Lane.
And Tommy Mathews, who kicked four conversions on an impressive Coventry debut at Welford Road, partners Josh Barton at half back.
In the pack, Fijian prospect Billy Nairau retains the starting shirt at loosehead prop alongside skipper Jordon Poole and Matt Johnson.
Second-row Obi Nkwocha and no.8 Matt Kvesic join Hutler in keeping seasonal ever-present tags while the former England back-rower’s colleagues Aaron Hinkley and Tom Ball both face their former club.
Coventry head coach Alex Rae said: “We had a few bumps and bruises after a physical game at Leicester so having a break for a week has given the boys the chance to recover and rest.
“Northampton is going to be another brilliant game for us to be involved in. We’re taking the cup really seriously and are going all out to try and get a home quarter-final by winning our pool.
“Saints are one of my old clubs, they’re the Premiership champions and a team that are doing really well at the moment.
“It’s going to be a really tough game against a team whose style of rugby will put us under a lot of pressure so it will be a really good test of where we’re at currently.”
Coventry Rugby’s line-up vs Northampton Saints
Coventry: Charlie Robson; Ryan Hutler, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Tom Hitchcock, David Opoku; Tommy Mathews, Josh Barton; Vilikesa Nairau, Jordon Poole, Matt Johnson; Obinna Nkwocha, Senitiki Nayalo; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Matt Kvesic.
Replacements: Suva Ma’asi, Jevaughn Warren, Eliot Salt, Rhys Anstey, James Tyas, Will Lane, James Martin, Chester Owen
