FORWARDS Semisi Taulava and Chris Jones are both recalled by Worcester Warriors as they tackle Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership at Sixways tomorrow (3pm).
Lock Jones, who makes his 199th Premiership appearance, and number eight Taulava both start games for the first time since January as head coach Richard Hill makes a total of five changes to his starting line-up.
The third change in the pack sees Scotland international tighthead prop Euan Murray called-up, with ex-Exeter front rower John Andress moving to the bench.
Centre Josh Matavesi will face his former employers after being named in midfield alongside Alex Grove, while scrum-half Jonny Arr returns to partner Andy Goode at half back.
Scrum-half Shaun Perry could make his first senior appearance in over six months after being named among the replacements alongside flanker Sam Betty, who also returns to the match-day squad.
Hill said: “I can’t accept going to London Irish, who are third bottom, and losing 26-6. That is totally unacceptable so we owe the supporters a big performance against Exeter.
“There’s been two other occasions – away at Bath and away at Exeter - where we’ve performed poorly and we’ve responded well on both occasions.
“We perform well at home so we have made sure all the players are in a very positive frame of mind so we can play like we have done week in week out here.
“Exeter are a team that don’t make many mistakes. They’re a machine-like team who are very efficient and well-drilled. It will be a very testing game for us.”
Warriors: Pennell; Drauniniu, Grove, Matavesi, Lemi; Goode, Arr; Mullan, Shervington, Murray, Percival, Chris Jones, Best, Kvesic, Taulava. Replacements: Lutui, Ceri Jones, Andress, Schofield, Betty, Perry, Gray, Clarke.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here