PROP Ryan Bower has been named as Michael Holford's
replacement at tighthead for Nottingham's clash with Doncaster at
Meadow Lane Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off).
Bower (pictured left) makes his second league start of the
campaign for the Green and Whites as cover for the 30-year-old who
this week joined Premiership side Leicester on a short-term
loan.
The change to the front row is one of four made by Nottingham
head coach Martin Haag ahead of the inaugural Robin Hood Shield
clash.
Lock Dan Montagu said Bower has effortlessly stepped up in
training to show himself as a ready-made substitute for the
experienced campaigner who has started all nine RFU Championship
fixtures to date.
"Holfy has been doing a great job at tighthead but we have a
quality prop in Bowzer coming in," Montagu said.
"Bowzer can step up, I've played with him before and he's shown
himself to be extremely capable. I'm sure it will be a seamless
change and one that isn't going to affect the side too much."
RFU Championship XV representative centre Tim Streather gets his
first start for Nottingham since the first week of October, having
recovered from injury.
Streather featured for Nottingham against Newcastle as a second
half substitute recently. He went on to prove that he is back to
his best last week, starting alongside Green and Whites teammates
Rhys Crane and Nic Rouse in the representative clash with the Maori
All Blacks.
Rupert Cooper reclaims his starting place ahead of Tom Calladine
in the back row, with second rower Joe Cain named in Nottingham's
match day 22 for the first time this season.
Cain is poised to make his first appearance for Green and
Whites, named on the bench.
The 20-year-old former Melbourne Rugby Club junior came through
the Leicester Tigers Academy and made his first senior appearance
for the Premiership giants in the LV= Cup earlier this month.
Meanwhile, scrum-half Finlay Barnham returned to the Green and
Whites Lady Bay training base this week after a short term loan
with Premiership side London Irish.
Barnham was on the bench for the Exiles trip to Welford Road at
the weekend, and while he didn't feature in the match he took the
experience all in his stride.
"It was a great learning experience for me," Barnham said.
More than 1,500 junior and mini players from across Notts, Lincs
and Derbyshire have signed up for Nottingham Rugby's special Clubs
Day offer to watch Sunday's match. The family stand is expected to
be packed to the rafters with the biggest crowd of the season
anticipated.
The Robin Hood themed event has also generated plenty of other
interest with the Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Merlita Bryan,
attending as a special guest.
Tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased
by calling the Green and Whites ticket office on 0115 907 0070.
Nottingham Rugby team to face Doncaster at Meadow Lane
Stadium on Sunday, November 25, 3pm kick-off: 15 Andrew
Savage 14 David Jackson 13 Tim Streather 12 Joe Munro 11 Rhys Crane
10 James Arlidge 9 Sean Romans 1 Matt Parr 2 Joe Duffey 3 Ryan
Bower 4 Dan Montagu 5 Nic Rouse 6 Rupert Cooper 7 Brent Wilson 8
Alex Shaw.
Replacements from: 16 Shaun Malton 17 Matt
Shields 18 Joe Cain 19 Tom Calladine 20 Finlay Barnham 21 Rory Lynn
22 Joe Cobden.