PAUL Hodgson will return for Warriors against his former side London Irish at Sixways tomorrow (3pm).
The scrum-half has been recalled to the starting line-up for Warriors’ first home game of the season after impressing from the bench during last weekend’s trip to Leicester Tigers.
Euan Murray also returns to the starting line-up after missing last Sunday’s match due to religious reasons. Paul Andrew will join the Scotsman in the front row for his first start for Warriors, replacing Jeremy Becasseau.
Chris Jones will start at lock in place of Dean Schofield as Warriors aim to start their home campaign with victory.
The entire back-line keep their place as director of rugby Dean Ryan hands starts to Chris Pennell, Josh Drauniniu, Ravai Fatiaki, Josh Matavesi and David Lemi.
In last season’s fixture, Warriors recorded an impressive 35-11 victory as they battled to their biggest win of the season.
Ryan said: “There have been a couple of changes as five or six places are quite tight. Some of the decisions are specific to London Irish as they’re a different challenge to Leicester.
“I’m not changing for the sake of it or for the sake of their form, but I am changing it because there are five or six lads challenging to potentially get in this team every week.
“And where we’ve got competition I’ve got to keep those places lively. It will be a different game to Leicester as it is the other end of the spectrum.
“Irish have some dangerous runners and will be a threat on the counter-attack so we need to be really clear on our objectives and try to squeeze them.”
Warriors: Pennell, Drauniniu, Fatiaki, Matavesi, Lemi; Mieres, Hodgson; Andrew, Shervington, Murray, Williams, Jones, Thomas, Betty, Taulava. Replacements: Seymour, Fainga'anuku, Andress, Schofield, Abbott, Su’a, Gray, Clarke.
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