DECLAN KIDNEY has confirmed the squad that will take on DHL Stormers on Saturday in Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town (5:30pm kick-off GMT).
Will Goodrick-Clarke, Mike Willemse and Lovejoy Chawatama combine in the front row, with Rob Simmons and Adam Coleman the starting second row duo.
Matt Rogerson captains the side from the six jersey and is joined in the back row by Tom Pearson and Josh Basham.
Joe Powell and Paddy Jackson link up to form the halfback partnership, and Benhard van Rensburg partners Luca Morisi in the centres.
Ollie Hassell-Collins, Lucio Cinti and Ben Loader complete the starting line-up as the back three.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - MARCH 26: Ollie Hassell-Collins of London Irish breaks past George Furbank of Northampton Saints during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between London Irish and Northampton Saints at Brentford Community Stadium on March 26, 2022 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Argentina international Ignacio Ruiz is set to make his first appearance for the Club, if required from the replacements
“Coming over to Cape Town has been a unique experience for us as a Club, even though some of our squad are familiar with the surroundings from being here before with other teams,” said Declan Kidney, Director of Rugby.
“We have a tough fixture against the reigning URC Champions in their own back yard tomorrow, which we are looking forward to.
“We have had some good training sessions over here in South Africa, and we have prepared well. DHL Stormers are a good team with international experience in their ranks. We look forward to testing ourselves in a new environment against a different style of rugby that we are used to.”
🚨 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨
Here's our side for tomorrow's @ChampionsCup clash with DHL Stormers in South Africa 🇿🇦 (kick-off 5:30pm GMT)
🆕 Potential debut for Ignacio Ruiz
🔙 Basham and Pearson return#STOvLIR pic.twitter.com/k0woFEanjr— London Irish (@londonirish) December 16, 2022
Fullback: 15. Ben Loader
Winger: 14. Lucio Cinti,
Centres: 13. Luca Morisi 12. Benhard van Rensburg
Winger: 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins
Outhalf: 10 Paddy Jackson 9,. Scrumhalf Joe Powell
Front row: 1. Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Mike Willemse, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama
Second row: 4 Rob Simmons, 5 Adam Coleman
Backrow: 6 Matt Rogerson (c), 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Josh Basham.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben White, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Will Joseph.
