NOTTINGHAM head coach Martin Haag has kept faith
with Jack Cobden for Saturday's must-win British and Irish Cup
clash with Doncaster after the winger impressed on short notice
last week.
JACK FLASH: Jack Cobden again starts on the
wing after impressing on short notice against the Titans. PIC:
Alison Bowden.
Cobden was a surprise late call-up for the Green and Whites' RFU
Championship game at Clifton Lane, replacing David Jackson who
succumbed to illness just hours before kick-off against
Rotherham.
The former young England international marked his return, having
struggled with niggling foot and hip injuries during the first half
of the season, with his first try of the campaign in the opening
minutes against the Titans.
Jackson has now fully recovered, but the triple centurion takes
his place on the bench for the Cup game at Castle Park tomorrow
(2.30pm kick-off).
"Jack came in at late notice and did really well for us which
I'm immensely pleased with," Haag said.
"One thing we talk a lot about here is making sure that whenever
you get your opportunity that you are ready to take it because
sometimes it is easy not do as much training, go a bit off the
rails and not know all the moves as well as those who are playing
week-in-and-week out.
"Everyone has to be ready, on their mettle, and not coasting
through - just because someone is not named in selection during the
week doesn't mean they don't stand a chance of playing on the
weekend.
"Jack showed he was ready, he wasn't picked in the side on
Friday afternoon but was out there playing on Saturday."
Alex Lewington will again move to full-back with Cobden slotting
in at right wing.
The only other change to Haag's starting XV is the inclusion of
centre Andy Forsyth with Joe Munro rested for the trip to
Yorkshire.
On the bench, Joe Quinn is brought in to replace teenager Tom
Price who was this week called up to the England under-20
squad.
Nottingham Rugby team to face Doncaster at Castle Park
on January 12 (2.30pm kick-off): 15 Alex Lewington 14 Jack
Cobden 13 Tim Streather 12 Andy Forsyth 11 Rhys Crane 10 James
Arlidge 9 Sean Romans 1 Jonny Harris 2 Shaun Malton 3 Michael
Holford 4 Dan Montagu 5 Nic Rouse 6 Rupert Cooper 7 Brent Wilson 8
Tom Calladine.
Replacements from: 16 Scott Wright 17 Ryan
Bower 18 Joe Quinn 19 Alex Shaw 20 Finlay Barnham 21 Joe Cobden 22
David Jackson.