By apb
October 8 2004

"Its the one we MUST win" is the echo you hear across the South Stand when talk of the Worcester Warriors coming to Headingley is raised. Like Leeds, Worcester have had a disappointing start to the premiership season, with each team securing only one win in five outings. Leeds fans take a crumb of comfort, though, from the fact that all of Leeds' games have been against top opposition, and the relative positions of Gloucester, Leicester, Sale and Wasps shows that as expected, those four teams are in contention for the main prize.

But underestimate Worcester at your peril. After a thumping by Sale the week before last, they showed superb resilience and character in handing out a similar drubbing to the mighty Harlequins - the only team now yet to record a win. The talk of the town at the moment is on the signing of "Jonah Lomu's cousin" Sione Kepu. Although a man of limited experience at the very top level, his caps in the sevens game for the All Blacks, plus his genetic make-up, should give us pause for thought. He is named on the bench.

This would have been an opportunity for the Murphy brothers to say hello on the same pitch, this time from opposite sides. Tykesrugby.co.uk sponsored Phil last year, and we watch his career at Worcester with interest. Sadly for him, he's not named in the Warriors 22 this week. Meanwhile Chris has already made the impact required of him at his second stint at Headingley, and his passion for the club caught my eye last week when he was clearly egging on the relatively silent South Stand.

On the Leeds team side, Richard Parks takes a rest to allow Dan Hyde to return, and the excellent Colm Rigney drops to the bench for Alix Popham's return. Tim Stimpson gets his first full team start at 15, taking over from the injured Albanese, and with Ronnie Regan fit to play after bruising his hand last week, there are no other changes to the starting fifteen. With great fanfare, young Mr. Balshaw is declared fit and is named on the bench, alongside Scott Morgan, Colm Rigney, Duncan Hodge, Matt Holt and Rob Rawlinson. Clearly we are close to the regular first fifteen.

Worcester meanwhile, are asking a lot of Ben Hinshelwood. A magnificent player and clearly comfortable in a number of back-line positions, he was initially named both as outside centre AND winger on the official site - perhaps something we can take advantage of!! However, this has now been corrected, and Dale Rasmussen take up his place at outside centre. Worcester do name a strong set of backs, with Thinus Delport at full back and Ben Gollings on the wing. Once again though, Clive Stuart-Smith is only considered good enough for the bench, and since we all know about CSS's quality, Alan Dickens will have to be careful of the starting scrum-half, Matt Powell.

Both teams will want to consolidate their ZP position and to leave Harlequins further in the cold at the foot of the table. Both teams have the confidence going in to the match, and both teams have an abundance of quality players. In some ways, its a pity both teams can't win. But they can't, and I believe the Tykes are on the verge of something special. They haven't quite clicked in all their previous five outings (Saracens away, perhaps, excepted), but its clear all the elements are there. If they click, someone is in for a serious drubbing, and I only hope that that happens on Sunday.

Match Prediction: Tykes win.

Teams:

Leeds Tykes

15. Tim Stimpson
14. David Rees
13. Chris Bell
12. Andre Snyman
11. Tom Biggs
10. Gordon Ross
9. Alan Dickens
1. Mike Shelley
2. Mark Regan
3. Gavin Kerr
4. Chris Murphy
5. Stuart Hooper
6. Jon Dunbar
7. Dan Hyde
8. Alix Popham

16. Matt Holt
17. Rob Rawlinson
18. Scott Morgan
19. Colm Rigney
20. Mark McMillan
21. Iain Balshaw
22. Duncan Hodge

Worcester Warriors

15. Thinus Delport
14. Ben Hinshelwood
13. Dale Rasmussen
12. Thomas Lombard
11. Ben Gollings
10. James Brown
9. Mat Powell
1. Tony Windo
2. Ben Daly
3. Neil Lyman
4. Tim Collier
5. Craig Gillies
6. Mark Gabey
7. Pat Sanderson
8. Drew Hickey

Replacements from: Daren O'Leary, Sione Kepu, Clive Stuart-Smith, Steve Sparks, Van Niekerk, Lee Fortey, Saiosi Vaili