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

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

  • Worcester have forwards Marco Mama and Donncha O’Callaghan back in their pack for Sunday
  • The Warriors have lost their last 15 games against Quins
  • Harlequins make four changes to the team that shared a 10-try 39-39 draw with Gloucester at Twickenham
Marco Mama and Donncha O’Callaghan return to the Worcester Warriors forward pack for Sunday’s Premiership clash with Harlequins at Sixways.

An unchanged backline from last weekend’s trip to Bath sees Chris Pennell, Bryce Heem and Cooper Vuna in the back three with Ryan Mills and Wynand Olivier in the centre.

Tom Heathcote and Jonny Arr complete the half-back combination.

Na’ama Leleimalefaga, Niall Annett and Nick Schonert occupy the front-row followed by O’Callaghan and Darren Barry in the second-row.

Phil Dowson will once again lead the side from number eight next to openside flanker Mama and blindside Matt Cox.

Ryan Bower could be set for his first Premiership appearance for Warriors from the bench while Ben Sowrey and Gareth Milasinovich are also named among the replacements.

Meanwhile, there are four changes to the Harlequins side which drew against Gloucester during Big Game 8 at Twickenham Stadium last week.

Charlie Walker and Ross Chisholm start on the wings as Adam Jones and Luke Wallace are named in the front and back-rows respectively.

Among the replacements, Owen Evans will look to make his Premiership debut.


KEY STATS
  • Worcester Warriors have lost their last six first team matches since beating La Rochelle 19-3 at Sixways on 14 November
  • The Warriors 20-29 defeat to Leicester Tigers in their most recent home game in the Premiership ended a three-game home winning run in the tournament
  • Harlequins have lost just one of their last nine fixtures in all tournaments – 25-26 to Exeter at Sandy Park in Round 5 of the Premiership
  • Quins have achieved a try bonus point in each of their last seven matches in all competitions.
  • The visitors have won their last 14 Premiership encounters against the Warriors since Worcester’s 15-9 victory at the Twickenham Stoop in February 2005.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Worcester: Chris Pennell

Harlequins: Mike Brown

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Marco Mama, 6 Matt Cox, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Na’ama Leleimalefaga.
Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Sam Betty, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom Biggs.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Ross Chisholm, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care (c), 8 Nick Easter, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 James Horwill, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Dave Ward, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 Jack Clifford, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Harry Sloan.


Date: Sunday, January 3
Venue: Sixways
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant Referees: Paul Burton, Nigel Carrick
TMO: Geoff Warren