London Irish v Worcester: Team news, kick-off time, line-ups and stats for the Aviva Premiership clash - Ruck
Aviva Premiership

London Irish v Worcester: Team news, kick-off time, line-ups and stats for the Aviva Premiership clash

4 February 2016
Rugby Rucker
  • Bottom-of-the-table London Irish host Worcester on Sunday: 13:00 kick-off
  • Tom Coventry makes four changes to the Exiles
  • Worcester make just one change for the crunch clash at the Madejski Stadium.
London Irish’s record try scorer, Topsy Ojo, will make his 250th appearance for the Club when he leads the team out for Sunday’s Aviva Premiership fixture against Worcester Warriors.

The Irish winger has become a stalwart of the Club after joining the Academy in 2003. He made his debut against Wasps in October 2005 and has gone on to score 71 tries in 249 appearances.

Tom Coventry, has made four changes to the side that played against Sale last weekend for Sunday’s crucial Aviva Premiership fixture.

Andrew Fenby, Fergus Mulchrone, Jebb Sinclair and Rob McCusker all come into the starting line-up.

Meanwhile,  Director of Rugby Dean Ryan has made just one change to his starting 15.

KEY STATS
  • London Irish’s last five matches in Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst at Madejski Stadium the Exiles 18-28 reversal to Grenoble last time out ended a four game winning run at the venue in all tournaments
  • Worcester Warriors have slipped to eleven straight defeats in all tournaments since beating La Rochelle 19-3 at Sixways in the European Challenge Cup on 14th November
  • The Warriors have won only once on the road in Premiership Rugby since 1st January 2012: 17-12 at Newcastle on 30th March 2014
  • The Exiles only reversal in their last eight fixtures with Warriors in all tournaments was 11-35 at Sixways in Premiership Rugby in September 2012, whilst Worcester’s only previous victory at Madejski Stadium came in September 2005
PLAYERS TO WATCH
London Irish: Topsy Ojo

Worcester: Cooper Vuna

London Irish: 15 Andrew Fenby, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Fergus Mulchrone, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 Luke Narraway, 6 Jebb Sinclair, 5 Will Lloyd, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Court
Replacements: 16 Gerard Ellis, 17 Tom Smallbone, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Johnny Williams, 23 Theo Brophy-Clews

Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote 9 Luke Baldwin, 8 GJ van Velze (c), 7 Matt Cox, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Tevita Cavubati, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Na’ama Leleimalefaga
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 James Johnston, 19 Dan Sanderson, 20 Marco Mama, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Andy Symons

Date: Sunday, February 7
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Ian Tempest, Ashley Rowden
TMO: David Sainsbury