For
the present, the Bees have had a disappointing season and are favourites for relegation
along with the bottom placed Cornish All Blacks - both having won only two of
17 matches played in this campaign.
A pre-Christmas change in personnel
saw Ben Harvey forced to step down as Director of Rugby, with forwards coach Russell
Earnshaw, who joined the Bees from Doncaster last summer, taking a lone Head Coach
role.
Changes often bring about a change in fortune, and although beaten
9-3 in a try-less contest against Plymouth Albion at the Brickfields last weekend,
there was enough buzz in the Bees performance to indicate that an improved second
half of season is in them.
It is essential that the Pirates, who won 43-20
at home in September, take nothing for granted, as Sharmans Cross Road in mid-winter
is a place that can provide precious little solace for visitors.
There are
changes aplenty in the Pirates side - some through injury and others because of
a rotation policy presently in place, especially among the backs where there is
competition for places to establish the best back-line.
Rob Elloway, a replacement
last week against Coventry, is selected at hooker ahead of Darren Dawidiuk, whilst
other changes in the pack sees Matt Evans return at No. 8 and skipper Tim Cowley
move to blind-side flanker in place of Chris Cracknell.
In the outsides
full-back Adryan Winnan, wing Rhodri McAtee and centre Steve Winn all return to
the starting line-up.
Last week's hat-trick hero, Paul Devlin, will partner
Winn in the middle, but appears this week in the outside centre berth in place
of an injured Mark Ireland.
Vunga Lilo, who wore the number 15 shirt against
'Cov', reverts to the wing with McAtee, replacing Brian Tuohy and Jimmy Moore.
Cornish
Pirates:
A. Winnan, R. McAtee, P. Devlin, S. Winn, V. Lilo, O. Thomas
E. Fairhurst, M. Evans. I. Motusaga, T. Cowley (capt), S. Hobson
H. Senekal,
D. Seal, R. Elloway, P. Cook.
Replacements:
D. Dawidiuk, S. Heard, S. McKeen, S. Betty, G. Steenson
R. Bolt, J. Moore.
