Coventry v London Welsh

Coventry will look to build on the fact that they scored twenty eight points at Bristol a week ago after a torrid start to the match as they prepare to tackle the Welsh at home.

The Midlanders conceded five tries in a first half from hell at the Memorial Stadium leaving director of rugby Phil Maynard to lament that his side had been caught cold.

But London Welsh’s shock 20-9 defeat at home to Doncaster last time out means that both sides go in to tonight’s game with something to prove.

Coventry have on-loan fly-half Joey Carlisle available again after limping off at Bristol with a knee injury. However prop Dai Maddocks will be out for up to three weeks with a knee injury and flanker Ben Pons could face a lengthy lay-off if he has to have surgery on a shoulder problem.

Meanwhile Maynard has said that the test call-up for Canadian Number 8 Aaron Carpenter could be just what he needs to get back on track. Carpenter will join the national squad for a two match tour of Japan and a game against Russia later this month.

Maynard told the Evening Telegraph, “ Hopefully going away with his country will help him recharge his batteries and when he comes back he’ll be able to show us his best.

“Sometimes a change is as good as a rest and getting back to what’s familiar will help him no end. By his own admission he is struggling with his form.”

Full story.. www.coventrytelegraph.net

London Welsh team.. www.london-welsh.co.uk

Doncaster Knights v Birmingham & Solihull

The Knights, who have turned their season around with three successive victories, start as favourites to maintain their winning ways at Castle Park against Russell Earnshaw`s Bees.

The Knights followed a shock home win over Bristol with an impressive display to nullify the threat of the London Welsh pack at Old Deer Park last Saturday. Victory against the Bees could be enough to drag them out of the bottom four.

However Knights boss Lynn Howells has warned his side against complacency. With the chronic injury crisis at Castle Park starting to ease he told the Doncaster Free Press, “So far this year we've gone into games and we've been seen as the underdogs.

"Now we're going into Saturday as favourites. It's a different outlook on the game but that is something we have to deal with.”

"We've just got to keep on doing what we've been doing. We've got to try and play a bit better than we did on Saturday and keep moving forward and improving."

Full story.. www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Knights team.. www.drfc.co.uk

The Bees travel to Yorkshire still angered by unpleasant scenes at the end of last weekend’s home defeat to Moseley when a section of visiting supporters barracked players as they left the field.

Russell Earnshaw told the Birmingham Mail, “I was pretty appalled. As we were coming through their tunnel a small minority of their fans were booing and during the match my partner was involved in an argument with one of them.

“I can understand there is a rivalry there, but we are not football fans are we?

The support we have over the last few months has been amazing. The Cornish Pirates fans were unbelievable.”

“But I am a believer that there is a bit of a difference between rugby and other sports, so I think it’s unacceptable.”

However a spokesman for the Billesley Common club rejected the claim.

Full story.. www.birminghammail.net

Bees centre Ronnie McLean has told the Birmingham Post that the fifteen point deduction imposed by the RFU on the club due to their financial plight could well act in their favour.

With some calling for the Bees to be autonmatically relegated he said, “I can’t deny it’s helped us in a way because if it wasn’t for the play-offs we would probably be going down. But we can concentrate on them, get some scalps and stay up.”

Full story.. www.birminghampost.net

Moseley v Rotherham Titans

After their narrow scrape at Sharmans Cross Road Moseley know that there will be no room for error against a Titans side full of confidence after beating the Pirates.

Head coach Ian Smith was far from happy with his team's performance despite winning 23-16 and the inquest was long and searching when the team returned to training this week.

Just five tries in their last four games has not seen any panic buttons pressed yet but assistant coach Don Caskie told the Birmingham Post that his team have had to learn to tailor theyr style to suit the opponents.

He said, “We have an underlying ethos to playing an open and expansive game – like most teams in this division.”

“And we have not changed that ethos but the league is much harder, there are no guaranteed five-pointers so you have to tailor your game to the threats you come up against.

“It might not suit us all of the time and it might not suit our supporters but we have to earn the right to play and that’s not easily established in the Championship.”

Full story.. hwww.birminghampost.net

The Titans will include wing Peter Swatkins in their starting line-up after an afternoon warming the bench against the Pirates. Canadian flanker Adam Kleeberger comes in for Namibian Tinus du Plessis who is away on World Cup qualification duty for his country.

Head Coach Craig West told the Sheffield Star oif his delight at luring Kevin Maggs, the former Bath, Bristol and Ireland centre back to the club.

He said, "Kevin had a massive influence last season when he was here and that will be just the same from now until the end of this season," West said. "I am sure he will be able to help us to achieve our ambition of finishing in the top eight.

Full story.. www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyunion

Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs

The match of the day takes place at Welford Road, the home of Leicester Tigers, between injury ravaged Nottingham and currently unbeaten Exeter Chiefs.

Nottingham have switched the match as their own ground at Meadow Lane is unavailable due to FA Cup commitments, and the 4.15pm kick-off is tailored so as not to clash with the England v New Zealand international on TV.

The Green and Whites aim to bounce back from their humbling at Brickfields a week ago but will have to do it without two further dual-registered players. Skipper Craig Hammond and lock Sam Raven have both been recalled by the Tigers to face Leeds Carnegie in the Anglo-Welsh cup 24 hours later.

Director of rugby Glenn Delaney has responded by bringing in centre Tom Casson on a season-long deal from Saracens.

Delaney told the Evening Post, “Up front they (Exeter) have always been very strong. We will continue to play the way we have been playing – good, expansive rugby.”

"We will try to give Tim Streather and Jack Cobden the ball in hand, playing it that way. That's what we like to do and we will continue on that theme.

"Defensively, we are going to have be very sharp. We have the best defensive record in the league and we will back ourselves to defend well and give ourselves opportunities to score some tries."

Full story.. www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/rugby

In another article Delaney clarified the importance of dual registered players to the Green and Whites.

He said, “I think some people have been questioning the relationship we have with Leicester Tigers.”

"The reality is that we get the lions' share of that arrangement. There are very rare times in a season when they need some players to help out and this is one of them.

"We've always said that we would help them with players if they got into a fix, even going beyond the dual registered players.”

"To be honest, when we get the likes of Dan Cole playing for us, other dual registered guys like Billy Twelvetrees, those players will play for us at some stage this season.

"Leicester have had a fairly rough run of injuries but the reality is, we get lions' share of the players."

Full story.. www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/rugby

Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has spoken of how his team are concentrating on an accurate implementation of their own game plan as opposed to worrying about meeting Nottingham on the rebound.

He told the Western Morning News, “Playing at Welford Road has added a nice little bit of focus. I think the players are looking forward to that experience. I think it is a bit like going to a neutral venue.”

"For us it's not massively different to any other game we play this week. We've approached every game in a very professional manner, with great enthusiasm. All credit to the players, they are buying into what we're trying to do and enjoying how we're playing. We've had a really good training week."

Full story and Chiefs team.. www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk

Plymouth Albion v Bristol

One week after dispatching Nottingham in one of the shock results of the season to date, Plymouth Albion gear up for the visit of Bristol to Brickfields wi

Albion`s chairman of rugby has told his side that they should expect a much tougher test against a Bristol side who have had a settled team selection over recent weeks.

Dawe told The Herald, “It will be nice to play a game of rugby against Bristol again. Bristol are as a big club from a big city with a rich history. They are perceived as the big boys in this league this season."

He continued, “Sides are only beatable if you play well against them. That is what we have to try and do tomorrow. We have to turn up and play well to win."

Before explaining the importance of good vocal support from the sidelines tomorrow.

He explained, "Hopefully, they (the fans) can do the same this weekend. We do need to make it as tough as possible for them (Bristol). We've got to try and keep that pressure on the referee, especially when we are in the end zone."

Albion will field the same XV which started against Nottingham.

Full story.. /www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/albion

However Rugby Times this week claims that Albion will be investigated by the RFU over a claim allegedly made by Nottingham that they fielded sixteen players at one point in last weekend`s match.

Journalist Neil Fissler states, “Apparently when Albion chairman of rugby took the field at the ripe old age of 50, as a second half replacement, no Plymouth player went off.”

In the Bristol camp forwards coach John Brain has paid tribute to the recent performances from Number 8 turned lock James Phillips.

The 22 year-old who previously played for Gloucester has been an ever-present so far this season for Paul Hull`s team, and Brain praised his versatility.

He told the Evening Post, “He has adjusted very well. He still has some technical areas that need work, at the line-out and restart in particular. But he is a very good rugby player – he offers the team a lot in attack, he is a ball-carrier, he is quite a skilful player and he is good at the breakdown for a big man.”

"It is always good if one of your locks has the skills normally associated with the back row – and we are quite aware that Phillips is a good 6, a good 8 and has made a good start to the season."

Full story.. www.thisisbristol.co.uk/bristolrugby

Bristol welcome bak lock Nathan Budgett for the match at Brickfields after a lengthy lay-off with a calf injury. He will partner Roy Winters in the second row who is making his 100 th appearance for the club.

Bristol team.. www.bristolrugby.co.uk

Rotherham Titans v Cornish Pirates

Match preview from this site.. Pirates v Bedford Preview

Western Morning News view.. www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk

For the Blues leading points scorer James Pritchard could miss the trip to Cornwall as he is due to join up with the Canada squad next week. Luke Fielden may deputise at full-back

Despite a number of other on-going injury concerns and back to back defeats Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer is ready for the challenge posed by the Pirates.

He told the Times and Citizen, “Any win in the West Country is to be treasured and we're working towards that.

"Like us, they'll try and play some rugby and will want to get some front foot ball so they can go forward. Often it comes down to the two packs and whether they can get on top and this should be no different."

Full story.. www.bedfordtoday.co.uk

This Match Will Be Live On Pirates TV