COVENTRY Rugby head coach Alex Rae has made a single change to the starting line-up ahead of his side’s trip to league leaders Ealing Trailfinders.
After scoring seven of Cov’s eight tries against the previously unbeaten Doncaster Knights last weekend, the back division remains the same.
And both loosehead prop Elliot Chilvers and lock Rhys Anstey are unavailable to face the Trailfinders under the terms of their season-long loan agreements from the Vallis Way club.
That means the sole change to Cov’s line-up sees on-loan Bath prop Arthur Cordwell move from the bench to take a starting shirt.
Paddy Ryan takes the place of Anstey on the bench, after missing last weekend’s victory while on international duty with the USA who triumphed in the La Vila International Rugby Cup.
Additionally, Tom Ball has recovered from the late knock suffered against Doncaster to take his place in the back row with former Saracen Obi Nkwocha again named in the second row alongside James Tyas.
Evan Mitchell comes on to the bench as cover for the backs where he is joined by the on-loan Premiership front row trio of John Stewart (Bath), Danny Southworth (Exeter) and Cal Ford (Sale).
Rae said: “Ealing are previous champions of this league, they’re currently top of the table and have a squad filled with Premiership and international players so it is certain to be a tough game for us.
“Although it’s only our fourth league game of the season, it’s the sort of occasion where if we have ambition to do well we have to give a good account of ourselves.
“We have happy memories of the last time we played there; we now have to turn up with a really good attitude and a positive mindset.
“We’re full of confidence after last week and if we play to 100 per cent of our ability I have no doubt that we can win.
“But equally I’m sure they’re sat there saying they can beat Coventry too so it should make for a great game.”
Coventry’s clash with league leaders Ealing takes place on Saturday, November 25 with kick-off at 2.30pm at Trailfinders Sports Club.
Coventry’s line-up
Coventry: Wilson; Hutler, Wand, Rigg, Martin; Pellegrini, Chudley; Cordwell, Poole, Salt; Tyas, Nkwocha; Ball, Kvesic, Nayalo.
Replacements: Stewart, Southworth, Ford, Smith, Ryan, Lane, Bartlett, Mitchell.
