Rugby Union
Shervington starts against former club

Buy photos » Ed Shervington will have the chance to get one over his former club on Saturday when Worcester Warriors host Ospreys. Picture by Ian Smith.

HOOKER Ed Shervington will line up against his former club as Worcester Warriors tackle Ospreys in the LV= Cup dead rubber clash at Sixways tomorrow (3pm).

Shervington is one of ten changes to the team that faced Saracens last weekend as Warriors head coach Richard Hill fields a strong side to try and secure victory to help build momentum ahead of the return to league action next week.

Tom Arscott moves to full back, Marcel Garvey returns on the wing, while Dale Rasmussen is recalled to join forces with a new-look midfield partnership with Ravai Fatiaki. Andy Goode and Shaun Perry will combine at half back.

The forwards feature six changes as only former Cornish Pirates duo Sam Betty and Blair Cowan remain from the Vicarage Road clash.

A new front row will see Shervington, who made 38 appearances for the Welsh side between 2006 and 2010, pack down alongside George Porter and Tevita Taumoepeau.

Joe Carlisle and Bruce Douglas miss out through injury, while Miles Benjamin, Alex Grove and Matt Kvesic are away on international duty.

Hill said: “We have picked the strongest available team to us as we aim to continue our winnings ways on home soil in 2012.

“We’ve already beaten the likes of Gloucester, Banca Monte Crociati and Bath A at Sixways and so remain unbeaten here in all competitions.

“It’s difficult to predict what kind of team Ospreys will bring to Sixways. If they field a similar side to the one that played at Dragons then it will be young with one or two players of real experience. If that is the case, they will have a lot of players who will want to prove a point.

“It will be tough, because they are a good outfit with a huge squad, and therefore a good test for us a week before we go to Sale. We must get a good performance before we start a run of big league games.

“Blair Cowan will make his home debut after impressing us all at Saracens. He was one of our standout players at Vicarage Road and the way he slotted into a side that he still doesn’t know too well was very encouraging.

“Another player who impressed at Saracens was Ravai Fatiaki and he also gets another start alongside Dale Rasmussen in midfield. I’m sure supporters are as excited as me to see them run out and start a senior game at Sixways.”

Warriors team to face Ospreys: Arscott, Garvey, Fatiaki, Rasmussen, Drauniniu, Goode, Perry (c), Porter, Shervington, Taumoepeau, Percival, Jones, Betty, Abbott, Cowan

Replacements: Lutui, Currie, Tomaszczyk, Gillies, Muagututia, Arr, Gray, Pennell