London Irish will play its local derby match with London Wasps before a new club record crowd for the Guinness Premiership on Sunday. Advance ticket sales for the match at Madejski Stadium (kick-off 2.00pm) are currently over 22,000 and rising.
With Mike Catt and Shane Geraghty with the England team for tomorrow's final RBS Six Nations match with Wales, the Exiles retain the core of the team that won away at Bristol last Saturday, making just three changes ' one positional and two personnel, to the starting line-up of the team that played at Memorial Stadium. Among the backs Riki Flutey moves to full back and Nils Mordt comes in at outside centre. In the pack Tonga Lea'aetoa starts at tight head prop in place of the injured Faan Rautenbach. Bob Casey captains the team in Mike Catt's absence.
'This is the first of two tough 'local derby' matches that we must play in six days,' said Brian Smith, London Irish Director of Rugby. 'Our recent run of success means that there is lots of self-belief, both individual and collective, among the squad at present, all of it will be needed as we prepare to face Wasps and Saracens who are directly above us in the league. The prospect of playing before over 22,000 people has the players really excited, I'm sure they will want to give of their best on what will be a great rugby occasion.
'Wasps have been Premiership champions now on three occasions and are masters of positioning themselves for the end of season play-offs. On Sunday afternoon we expect to see more examples of their efficiency at retaining and recycling the ball and playing 'go forward' rugby. So far this season the results of the two previous matches between us have gone their way so we would like to reverse the trend!' Smith added.
Team
15. Riki Flutey
14. Topsy Ojo
13. Nils Mordt
12. Seilala Mapusua*
11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*
10. Barry Everitt
9. Paul Hodgson
1. Neal Hatley
2. Robbie Russell*
3. Tonga Lea'aetoa*
4. Nick Kennedy
5. Bob Casey* (capt)
6. Kieran Roche
7. Steffon Armitage
8. Phil Murphy*
Replacements
16. Michael Collins
17. David Paice
18. James Hudson
19. Juan Leguizamon*
20. Olivier Magne*
21. Ben Willis
22. Justin Bishop*
* Denotes international
Director of Rugby: Brian Smith
Forwards Coach: Toby Booth
Tickets sales for the match crossed the 22,000 mark this morning. With only 1,500 tickets left for sale Irish are expecting the game to 'sell out' before Sunday. The club is appealing to all fans that have to collect tickets to arrive at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off (i.e. at 12.30pm) to avoid queues at ticket collection points. Fans will be able to enjoy the special Saint Patrick's Party pre-match entertainment which starts at 11.30am and continues after the game until 8.00pm.
There will be live match commentary by Graham McKechnie of BBC Radio Berkshire on the London Irish website at www.london-irish.com.
Coral's betting forecast for the game is as follows:
It will be Saint Patrick's Party time at Madejski Stadium for Sunday's live television game. London Irish hosts London Wasps in a local derby that is already set to establish a new attendance record for the Premiership. Both teams are showing good form ' the Exiles have won their last four while Wasps have lost only one of their last six outings. Irish have a poor record against Wasps in recent seasons ' just one win in 11, so they have it all to do. Coral has Irish at 4/7 to win with Wasps at 11/8 and the draw at 18/1.