For the first time ever, I think, I told them we’d be training on Thursday, immediately after the Battle of Flowers,’ said new director of rugby, Dai Burton.
‘We’d had a good session on Tuesday, and we’ve so many new players this year I’m not sure where our strength will lie.
‘We lost 28-26 to London Nigerians (in the Powergen Intermediate Cup) and I’m taking the game seriously.
We know that they had some very good backs plus a typically strong set of London forwards, but I want to beat them.
I want some revenge for losing last year.
The pitch looks a picture at the moment and I know it will be hot, which is why we’ll probably play four 20-minute sessions.
‘But this year winning every game we play will be a major issue.’ Although Burton still has some of last year’s players either on the bench or away from the Island, he does have an experienced pack which includes two former Bradford and Bingley semi-professionals, Latu Makai’afi and Kearn Yates.
And, on the bench, he has former captain Richie Griffiths and young Ross Kenwright to bolster the pack towards the end of what promises to be a very hot day’s work for all 22 of them.
‘In the last game we played against them we eventually wore them down in the forwards,’ said Burton.
The same will probably be true on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3 pm.
Team: Marcus Nobes, Peter O’Connor, James Brimelow, Ian Henderson, Roger Quirk, Jon Allo, Kearn Yates, Latu Makai’afi, Paul Nayar, Sam Cummins, Steve O’Brien, Andy Whelan, Jamie Allan, Matt Howe, Richard Stevens.
Replacements: Ross Kenwright, Marc Peters, Richie Griffiths, Christian Butler, Mark White, Anthony Hurford, Darren Toudic.
