COVENTRY Rugby’s leading try-scorer Ryan Hutler will wear the no.13 shirt for the first time in a competitive match at Cornish Pirates this weekend.
The 26-year-old has scored six tries this season and moves inside from the right wing following an injury to Tom Hitchcock in last week’s home win against Hartpury.
Hutler will partner Daf Tiueti in midfield with David Opoku to make his third start of the season on the right wing, Jimmy Martin on the opposite flank and leading points scorer Liam Richman at full back.
Scrum half Will Lane earns a start in Penzance with Tommy Mathews his half-back partner.
And Coventry head coach Alex Rae makes just one change to the starting pack as his side seek a first-ever win at Mennaye Field.
Tom Ball is reintroduced on the blindside flank where he features as part of a back row which also includes Tiki Nayalo and Aaron Hinkley.
Second-row partners Obinna Nkwocha and James Tyas retain their status as ever-present members of the matchday squad while Matt Johnson faces his former club for the first time since moving north in the summer.
Cov include young lock Dan Green among six forwards on a replacements bench where scrum half Josh Barton and also Charlie Robson provide cover for the backs.
Rae said: “Pirates are in a bit of a false position in the table at the moment as we know from recent meetings with them what a good, well-organised team they are.
“They have some really dangerous players – going down there is particularly tough as our record shows and that’s something we’re looking to rectify.”
Coventry Rugby’s line-up vs Cornish Pirates
Coventry: Liam Richman; David Opoku, Ryan Hutler, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Jimmy Martin; Tommy Mathews, Will Lane; Toby Trinder, Jordon Poole, Matt Johnson; James Tyas, Obinna Nkwocha; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Senitiki Nayalo
Replacements: Will Biggs, Jevaughn Warren, Eliot Salt, Dan Green, Chester Owen, Josh Barton, Charlie Robson, Dan Okeke
Coventry travel to Cornish Pirates on Saturday, December 14 with kick-off at 2.30pm at Mennaye Field.
