NEW loan signing Chris Morgan will be thrust
straight into the action for the table-topping Cornish Pirates when they tackle
Bedford Blues at Goldington Road tomorrow (3pm).
The back-row
forward, who has agreed a one-month loan with the Pirates from Premiership club
Bristol , will replace the injured Sam Betty in one of three changes from the
side that defeated Exeter Chiefs 43-16 last time out.
Injuries also
mean both Tim Cowley and Wade Kelly are ruled out this weekend, so Matt Evans
and Duncan Roke are the men chosen to fill the voids.
Despite the
changes, coach Jim McKay was in upbeat mood yesterday as his side took to the
road ahead of the game. The Australian said: "We're very confident in all the
players we have got in the squad. We've lost two or three boys for this weekend,
but those coming in know what it's all about and what's expected of them.
"Saturday is going to be a tough game for us. Bedford are a very good side,
especially at home, and they have some very good players who like to play rugby.
We are aware of their threats, but at the same time we have to believe in ourselves
and do our best to try and get a result up there."
Certainly the
inclusion of Morgan will be a benefit to the Pirates and the player himself. McKay
added: "Chris is a very experienced player. He has played over 80 games for Bristol
, including some in the Premiership, so we're very happy to have him on board."
Morgan's move west is not only beneficial to the Pirates, who have
lost Betty, Cowley, Iva Motusaga and Lodewyk Hattingh to injury, but also to the
player and Bristol as well.
Bristol coach Richard Hill said of Morgan's
move: "The Pirates have had some real injury problems and I've been a bit spoiled
for choice in the back row.
"I've two extremely good players in Richard
Martin-Redman and Chris Morgan, who haven't featured in the first team so far
this season, but they've both performed well in the A league.
"We're
developing Morgs as an openside and that's the position that the Pirates really
needed help with, so he's going down there to help them out for one month initially."
Hill added: "He performed really well last year when he got his chance,
especially against Wasps in the Cup, and he's a player who can raise his game
on the big occasion.
"The Pirates are going really well so he'll
be slotting into a good side and a good coaching set-up, so it's a good opportunity
for him to get some first team rugby.
"I like Jim McKay and his approach
to coaching. He has a good philosophy where rugby is concerned and he'll look
after Morgs for us."
Indeed, Morgan can expect a tough debut for
his new club. Like the Pirates, Bedford have yet to taste defeat this season.
In four games they have recorded three victories - the latest of which was a 40-24
success at London Welsh - plus a 16-all draw with Otley on the opening day of
the season.
McKay knows the Blues will be tough opponents. He added:
"They have some experienced players in their side. They've got people like Chris
Johnson at hooker, Junior Paramore at eight and Matt Allen in the centre.
"They've started the season very well, so it won't be easy for us going
up there. That said, out focus is to make sure we play rugby and try and score
as many points as we can. Our performance at Exeter last week was good. We started
playing the kind of rugby we're aspiring too, but as I've said before, we're still
not the finished article by any means.
"We need to keep building
on our performance. Last week was another step in the right direction, hopefully
Saturday will be another."
Cornish Pirates: W Davies; R Welding,
D Roke, S James, K James; T Barlow, G Cattle; A Paver, P Ince, N Adams; W James,
J Beardshaw; J Bearman (capt), C Morgan. M Evans. Replacements: N Makin, D Seal,
V Ma'asi, S Hockings , N Chivers, L Jarvis, M Jess.
