Hartpury have shuffled the pack ahead of tomorrow’s final home fixture of the season with visitors the Jersey Reds.
Following a difficult day at the scrum in the last fixture, at Cornish Pirates, an all-new front row is named. George Porter returns at loose-head, while Jersey-born Luke Stratford makes his first start since the opening day of the season at hooker, interchanging with fellow co-captain Will Crane. The tight-head berth is occupied by Gloucester’s Ciaran Knight, who made a noticeable difference as a replacement last week.
The back five forwards show only one change, with Morgan Monks starting at Number 8 and Iain Grieve moving to the blind-side. Joe Howard remains to complete the back-row trio.
Scrum-half Oscar Lennon made a good Championship start at Pirates and gets another run tomorrow. The backs, in fact, only show one change – there is a start for swervin’ Ervin Muric and a bench spot for Sam Smith, whilst Sam Goatley drops out of the squad with a shoulder injury.
There is a new face among the replacements as another Gloucester prop, Conor Maguire, makes his first appearance in Red and Black. Maguire – who made his Premiership debut in a win over the Falcons recently – formerly played for the Dragons, after moving from Dublin club side Old Wesley where he won age-grade caps for both Ireland and Leinster.