Leaving
behind what was for them a frustratingly disappointing September, the Cornish
Pirates have made numerous changes for this Saturday's visit to Manchester. In
total there are 10 changes from the XV that started against Nottingham, with two
forced because centre Tom Luke and flanker Bruce Cumming are both injured. Wing
Brian Tuohy, who in the summer starred for the Ireland A and Ireland 7s teams,
is one of four players making their first league starts of the season, with the
other three all in the pack where Sam Betty is selected on the flank, Darren Dawidiuk
at hooker, and Canadian Scott Franklin at tight-head prop. Having
been married in Narbonne last week, No. 8 Bertrand Bedes makes a welcome return
to the back-row, and Heino Senekal comes back into the side again to partner Ben
Gulliver at lock. In the outsides, Rhys Jones and Nick Griffiths form a fresh
half-back pairing, with there also midfield changes that provide opportunities
for centres Steve Winn and Mark Ireland. Manchester's Grove
Park home is a venue where the Pirates have played just once before, that a visit
in November, 2003, that they'd happily forget. Playing their first season in National
One, the Pirates lost 34-14, which was a huge disappointment as it came just a
week after the team had gone close to beating Saracens in the Powergen Cup competition.
Cornish Pirates prop forwards Alan Paver and Dan Seal
are the only two present day survivors who'll remember that day in Manchester,
an occasion when future 'Pirate' star Tim Cowley, plus lock Nic Rouse, a try scorer
in the match who played for Nottingham against the Pirates last week, were in
opposition.. Having been promoted at the end of last season
as runners-up to National Two champions Otley, Manchester experienced a tough
baptism on their return to National One, as they went down 62-0 in their opening
game played at Bedford. Since then, it has been a case of suffering four further
defeats, their last a 57-0 drubbing away to Leeds Carnegie. From
the five games played in this campaign, Manchester have leaked 256 points, and
scored just 64 in reply, which would indicate that this is a game from which the
Cornish Pirates should emerge winners. Should, yes, but in advance, and also by
taking note of the past, they'll wisely take nothing for granted. Cornish
Pirates:
M. Vakacegu, B. Tuohy, M. Ireland, S. Winn, R. McAtee, R. Jones,
N. Griffiths, B. Bedes
I. Motusaga, S. Betty, B. Gulliver (capt), H. Senekal,
S. Franklin, D. Dawidiuk, A. Paver. Replacements:
R. Elloway, D. Seal,
M. Burak, C. Morgan, E. Fairhurst, P. Devlin, J Moore
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