Titans

V

Nottingham

National Division 1

4th February 2006

Earth Arena

Kick Off 1.30pm

Andre Bester makes four changes to the starting fifteen that narrowly lost at Plymouth Albion last time out.

Two changes in the backs sees Anthony Carter come in on the wing for David Strettle, who is on England sevens duty. And Morne Jonker starts at scrum half for Joe Bedford.

In the forwards Nigel Conroy starts at hooker instead of Neil Hanna and at lock Tim Maslanyk makes his first start of the season replacing Gareth McComb.

The bench has to be finalized but Tom Allen and Gillan Carruthers could figure but Sam Walsh is expected to get the nod.

Earth Titans: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 John Holtby, 13 WP Strauss, 12 Lee Blackett (Capt), 11 Anthony Carter, 10 Ledowyk Strauss, 9 Morne Jonker, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Nigel Conroy, 3 John Rawson, 4 Jannie Bornman, 5 Tim Maslanyk, 6 Hendre Fourie 7 Neil Cochrane, 8 Scott Donald

Replacements From

Joe Bedford, Tom Allen, Mike Whitehead, Gillan Carruthers, Neil Hanna, Sam Walsh, Adam Hopcroft, Louis McGowan, Gareth McComb.

Nottingham: 15 Ben Thompson; 14 David Jackson, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Tom Kirk, 11 Josh Kay; 10 Neil Stenhouse, 9 Tom Richardson; 1 Peter Cook, 2 Alex Loney, 3 Nigel Hall, 4 Lee Morley, 5 Paul Arnold, 6 Mark Easter, 7 David Wilks, 8 Nic Fitisemanu.

Replacements: 16 Joe Duffey, 17 Tonga Lea’aetoa, 18 Neil Fowkes, 19 Graham Chenoweth, 20 Navdeep Sandhu, 21 Mark Woodrow, 22 Will Logan.

Coach Andre Bester previewed the game by saying, “Nottingham are the second best all round team in the division, behind Harlequins. They can play all styles of rugby, they can play a fast running game or they can slow it down and play a forwards game. They are a very dangerous side and they have some outstanding individuals!

"We are now planning very much on next season and I only want players here that want to be here. That’s not to say we are taking our eye of this, or any other game for the rest of the season. I am demanding that we put in a performance this week.

"We’re having a look at Tim Maslanyk this week, he’s young and we want to see if he can develop into a first team player. He’s been playing very well in the A-side and he deserves his chance.”

Rotherham has lost twice in their last five games in all competitions, away to Exeter in the cup and last week’s frustrating defeat away at Plymouth Albion. And whilst there’s no disgrace in losing in the South West, next season Roth will be looking to overturn those results.

But that’s next season, this week they face an in form Nottingham side. The reverse fixture on the opening day of the campaign saw Roth thumped 41-28. Nottingham that day had the bonus point wrapped up inside the first half hour.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have been surprising as Roth had recruited a whole new squad, with only two players from the previous season starting the game. But since then Roth have developed a team of improving players who have gelled nicely and they will be seeking to set the record straight this weekend.

Nottingham are bang in form and have lost only two of their last eight games in all competitions. Their defeat last time out away to Harlequins was a tremendous effort, with the home side only settling the contest six minutes from time.

But a closer inspection of Nottingham’s away form in the league reveals they have only won one all season. Their only victory on the road came at Sedgley Park back in September.

That’s not to say they are pushovers away from home, they’ve suffered one point losses at Coventry, Exeter and Plymouth and only by nine at Cornish Pirates. Those results demonstrate just what a competitive outfit they are.

The teams have met on five previous occasions in league history with Roth holding a slender 3-2 advantage. Although Nottingham have won the last two times the teams have met.

Roth Admin Prediction: Roth by 6

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