Thorburn rings changes in team to face Leinster

Skipper
By Duncan Wood
August 15 2002

On tour so far, Peter Thorburn has named two teams which have been a real mix of youth and experience. His lineup to face Leinster on Saturday has a more experienced look about it despite missing several first teamers.

So, two games down and one to go on the Irish tour to date.

The boys gave a good account of themselves against Munster on Tuesday and it appears that Munster's use of substitutes (and Bristol's lack of!) tipped the balance towards the home team as the game wore on.

However, a completely different Bristol XV clinched a tight victory against Connacht on Wednesday night thanks largely to a hat trick of tries from Jamie Williams who wasn't even convinced of his own match fitness!

The following team has been named to face Leinster on Saturday:

Lee Best, Jamie Williams, David Rees, Martin Shaw, Phil Christophers, Shane Drahm, Peter Richards, Ross Beattie (c), Craig Short, Ben Sturnham, Scott Morgan, Andrew Sheridan, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Saul Nelson, Paul Johnstone.

It's a more experienced looking team than the two that have taken the field so far on tour which have both featured plenty of players fresh from the Academy and it's worth noting that they've acquitted themselves very well and drawn a lot of praise from the senior players.

Felipe Contepomi has returned to Twickenham to spearhead the Shogun's Middlesex Sevens efforts in a squad captained by Paul Hodgson. Agustin Pichot, Alex Brown and Julian White are yet to feature whilst Mike Lipman and Neil McCarthy are resting knocks.

Leinster will be missing some Ireland squad players and I'm sure neither side will be giving too much away ahead of the Heineken Cup clashes!