Four changes for Exiles

Published 15 Jan 2010 12:31 0 Comments

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LONDON Irish have made four changes from their last outing at Northampton Saints for the vital Heineken Cup clash at Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday (12.45pm ko).

The Exiles saw their Premiership clash at Worcester last Saturday fall victim to the big freeze.

But they now turn their attentions to Europe, eyeing a win in Wales to set up a Pool Six deciding finale against Leinster at Twickenham on January 23.

In the front row, former Springbok Faan Rautenbach comes in at tight head prop and Richard Thorpe returns to the back row at blindside flanker.

Among the backs Elvis Seveali'i and Ryan Lamb, pictured, start at outside centre and fly half respectively with Tom Homer moving to the left wing. Peter Richards is named among the replacements following his recovery from injury.

Irish head coach, Toby Booth said: "While it was disappointing for our match at Worcester to be snowed off last weekend, we've been able to consolidate on the preparations for that match with another week's good training for Sunday's visit to Scarlets.

"In the reverse fixture last October both teams played with flair and ambition and I'm sure this match will be similar.

"Our Heineken Cup pool has certainly lived up to its advance billing with all our matches to date proving to be competitive and exciting for our supporters.

"We are currently well placed to progress to the next stage of this great tournament and will be going all out to establish a winning momentum on Sunday."

Team: 15 Delon Armitage; 14 Peter Hewat; 13 Elvis Seveali'i; 12 Seilala Mapusua; 11 Tom Homer; 10 Ryan Lamb; 9 Paul Hodgson; 1 Clarke Dermody; 2 David Paice; 3 Faan Rautenbach; 4 Nick Kennedy; 5 Bob Casey (c); 6 Richard Thorpe; 7 Steffon Armitage; 8 Chris Hala'Ufia.

Replacements: 16 Danie Coetzee; 17 Dan Murphy; 18 Paulica Ion; 19 Kieran Roche; 20 Gary Johnson; 21 John Rudd; 22 Peter Richards; 23 Chris Malone.

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