COVENTRY Rugby have made three changes ahead of the club’s trip to Bedford Blues in the Champ Rugby play-off semi-finals.
A hard-fought quarter-final victory against Hartpury extended Alex Rae’s side season by at least one more game.
And Rae has made three changes for Coventry’s trip to the league runners-up.
In the front row, Eliot Salt comes into the starting line-up at tighthead prop in place of Matt Johnson with the latter in line to make his 50th appearance from the bench.
And Senitiki Nayalo returns to Coventry’s second row alongside Mackenzie Graham while Jordon Poole captains the side at hooker while Aristot Benz-Salomon retains his place in the front row.
Allan Ferrie, Tom Ball and Morgan Strong continue as the back-row combination.
Behind the pack, Sam Maunder retains the scrum-half jersey and partners Josh Thomas in the half-backs, with Tommy Mathews moving to the bench after starting at fly-half against Hartpury.
The rest of the backline remains unchanged from last weekend’s victory, with Jack Reeves and David Opoku-Fordjour on the wings, Api Bavadra and Oli Morris in midfield and Tom Bacon at full-back.
Dan Green and Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi provide forward options on the bench while Josh Barton and Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti also feature among the replacements.
Coventry travel to Bedford on Friday, May 22 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Goldington Road.
Coventry’s squad to play Bedford
Starting XV: Aristot Benz-Salomon, Jordon Poole, Eliot Salt, Senitiki Nayalo, Mackenzie Graham, Allan Ferrie, Tom Ball, Morgan Strong, Sam Maunder, Josh Thomas, Jack Reeves, Api Bavadra, Oli Morris, David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Bacon.
Replacements: Murray Davidson, Keston Lines, Matt Johnson, Dan Green, Onisivoro Sukani Nayagi, Josh Barton, Tommy Mathews, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti.
