Match Preview

BE WARY OF THE IRISH

Jordan Reynolds has been stressing the need for full on concentration and composure as he attempts to ensure that there are no slip ups and London Irish Wild Geese don’t repeat their win at Footes Lane a year ago.
The Raiders have since beat them on their own home turf 20-3 earlier in the season, however the Raiders manegerial team have noticed a couple of new names in the selected group for this weekend, so the team lying 10th is a bit of an unknown and still as dangerous as ever.
‘It will be a tough encounter for sure, everyone that’s getting desperate near the bottom are always able to find more energy,’ said Reynolds.
‘It is important that we match them for motivation.’

From a selection point of view Raiders are glad to have Tom Teasdale back from his hamstring injury and the good news is that Nico Alexandre is also building up fitness with some games for the Vikings and is not far away from throwing his hat in for Raiders contention.
On Teasdale the head coach said: He has trained pretty well the last couple of weeks and it is good to have a specialist centre coming back.’
The by product of that is a key changes across the backline.
His return at inside centre sees Owen Thomas go to fly-half while Joe Andresen moves to the wing.
‘Joe plays really well at 10 and he and Tom have worked well together in that 10-12 combination, but putting Joe, Anthony Armstrong and Luke Sayer in that back three gives us our three fastest guys there, so we are shaping up to counter the Irish kicking game,’ said the coach.
The Raiders pack remains the same and the props are once again rotated with Sam Steventon and Layton Batiste returning to the starting XV.

Raiders v. London Irish Wild Geese kicks off at 3.15pm at Footes Lane as part of a triple header with Guernsey Raiders Ladies facing London Irish at 12.30pm and then St Jacques Vikings take on Eastbourne at 5pm.

Free entry to the Garenne Stand for members and under 16. £9 entry for non-members.

TEAM:
Steventon, Ceillam, Batiste, Webb, Merrien, Hillier, Rice, Horrocks, O’Connor, Thomas, Andresen, Teasdale, M. Armstrong, A. Armstrong, L. Sayer.
Replacements: Pinkney, Craine, Barker.