SAM Maunder will make his first Coventry Rugby start when Nottingham visit Butts Park Arena in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
The 24-year-old scrum-half, on loan from Premiership side Exeter Chiefs, appeared as a replacement for Cov against Doncaster Knights and Bedford Blues.
Maunder’s inclusion in the starting line-up is the only change made by head coach Alex Rae from the narrow defeat against Bedford last time out.
Tommy Mathews joins Maunder at half-back with top try scorer Ryan Hutler at outside centre and Charlie Robson at full-back.
Despite seeing red for two yellow cards at Bedford, Cov captain Jordon Poole keeps his place in the side with his yellow card offences deemed as two ‘technical’ infringements meaning he is available for selection.
Toby Trinder and Eliot Salt complete Cov’s front row with Obi Nkwocha and James Tyas in the second tow and Tiki Nayalo at number eight.
Cov welcome back Rhys Anstey to the bench while Josh Barton swaps places with first-time starter Maunder and Theo Mannion also features amongst the replacements.
Rae said: “Our last performance in the league against Nottingham was disappointing so while we don’t owe them one we certainly need to give a better account of ourselves than we did that day.
“We’re expecting them to come to the Butts Park Arena full of confidence and try to play a really attacking brand of rugby, run from all over the pitch and try to put tempo on the game at every opportunity.”
Coventry Rugby’s line-up vs Nottingham
Coventry: Charlie Robson; David Opoku, Ryan Hutler, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Jimmy Martin; Tommy Mathews, Sam Maunder; Toby Trinder, Jordon Poole, Eliot Salt; Obinna Nkwocha, James Tyas; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Senitiki Nayalo
Replacements: Will Biggs, Jevaughn Warren, Vilikesa Nairau, Rhys Anstey, Dan Okeke, Josh Barton, Tom Hitchcock, Theo Mannion
Coventry host Nottingham on Saturday, February 1 with kick-off at 2pm at Butts Park Arena.
