Experienced trio take front-row seats for Cov’s Nottingham cup test

Coventry Rugby have opted for front row experience in Friday night’s Premiership Rugby Cup opener against Nottingham (Lady Bay, 7.45pm kick off).

As a result, head coach Alex Rae brings the club’s most-capped current player Toby Trinder back into the starting line-up at loose head.

The fit-again prop is joined in the front row by the in-form Suva Ma’asi and summer signing Matt Johnson who a fortnight ago impressed from the bench during the second half of Cov’s narrow league win at Caldy.

The Blue-and-Whites otherwise name the same pack that started on the Wirral which means Tiki Nayalo remains in the second row alongside the ever-present Obi Nkwocha.

Matt Kvesic captains the side from no.8 with Aaron Hinkley and Tom Ball completing a mobile back row.

Cov also keep the same half-back and midfield combinations that began their round five Championship win at Paton Field, but there is a fourth personnel switch in the back three.

This sees Steff Davies wears the full back shirt for the first time since Cov’s home win over Bedford in late September with Charlie Robson moving to the right wing.

Rae retains his usual six-two, forwards-backs split among the replacements where club captain Jordon Poole and James Tyas offer more front-five experience.

Fijian prospect Billy Nairau is listed to appear on the loose head side of the front row for the first time this season when he emerges from the bench while 19-year-old lock Dan Green’s reward for his powerful try-scoring cameo at Caldy is another opportunity to impress.

Scrum-half Will Lane and winger Ryan Hutler provide backline options for Cov whose boss is expecting a tight game against his club’s old East Midlands rivals.

Rae says: “It’s never easy at Lady Bay; although we won there towards the end of last season it’s always a tricky place to go.

“Nottingham are full of confidence at the moment and they will try to put their style of rugby on us so it will be down to us to try and prevent that happening and make our own impact.”

Coventry: Steff Davies; Charlie Robson, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Tom Hitchcock, Jimmy Martin; Liam Richman, Josh Barton; Toby Trinder, Suva Ma’asi, Matt Johnson; Obinna Nkwocha, Senitiki Nayalo; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Matt Kvesic.

Replacements: Jordon Poole, Vilikesa Nairau, Eliot Salt, Dan Green, James Tyas, Will Lane, Ryan Hutler, Dan Okeke