Rugby Union
Cowan to make Premiership bow

Buy photos » Blair Cowan dealing well with the snowy conditions at Sixways against Ospreys. Picture by Ian Smith.

NUMBER eight Blair Cowan will make his Aviva Premiership debut as Worcester Warriors resume league action when they take on Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday evening (8pm).

Cowan, who signed from Cornish Pirates last month, has impressed in the recent LV= Cup ties and has now been given his full league debut as Warriors aim to make it three successive Premiership victories.

Warriors head coach Richard Hill also makes changes at half back from the side that defeated Gloucester last month as experienced duo Andy Goode and Shaun Perry, who will captain the team from scrum half, team up.

Prop George Porter is rewarded for a number of eye-catching displays with a place among the replacements along with Danny Gray and Ravai Fatiaki, who this week both signed new deals at Warriors.

Hill said: “This is a crucial game for both teams as they will want to return to winnings ways in the league and we know a win would put us close to them in the standings."

“If we can reach the level of performance we did against Gloucester then there is an opportunity to get a positive result. However, Sale are a difficult team and they might be bolstered by the return of some key players so I expect them to put a big pack out against us.”

Warriors side to face Sale Sharks on Friday: Pennell, Garvey, Grove, Rasmussen, Benjamin, Goode, Perry (c), Mullan, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Percival, Jones, Betty, Abbott, Cowan

Replacements: Porter, Shervington, Tomaszczyk, Gillies, Kvesic, Arr, Gray, Fatiaki