Waterloo Preview

Titans

V

Waterloo

National Division 1

30th September 2006

Earth Arena

Kick Off 3.00pm

TEAM NEWS

Although Bester has named the same squad this week – except for the injured Jarleth Carey, who is expected to be out for around 8 weeks – he told this site earlier today, “I’ve not finalized the starting 15 yet, but there will be changes.”

Bester continued, “I will be rotating the squad, it’s something I should have done earlier – I made a mistake, I was wrong! Certain players need to get their chance.”

With regard to last week’s defeat in the South West Bester said, “It’s in the past and I don’t want to discuss it any more. The defeat was our own fault and I take responsibility for that, but that finished now and we move on.

“I fully trust this group of players and we are all hurting, but our application has not been very good so far this season. I know we are capable of so much more. This week is about us, not Waterloo. The mark of a man is how he responds and re-acts to adversity. The players need to learn the lesson if they are to improve.”

Although Bester was reluctant to elaborate on the changes for Saturday, he did announce that Hendre Fourie would skipper the side. This suggests we may see Jamie Blackwood get his first real opportunity to show what he is capable of.

Roth Squad for Waterloo

Adam Hopcroft, Andrew Turnbull, Barry Jacobsz, Bernard Hennessey, Brendan Burke, Brian Tuohy, Erik Lund, Gareth Steenson, Hendre Fourie, Henry Head, Jamie Blackwood, Jannie Bornman, Joe Bedford, Jon Buchanan, Louis McGowan, Michael McComish, Mike Whitehead, Neil Hanna, Nigel Conroy, Sam Walsh, Steve Croall, Tom Allen.

Waterloo Squad TBA

FORM GUIDE

Despite the defeat last week, Roth still come into the game as the form side. Just the one defeat sees Roth sitting in third spot in the league, whereas Waterloo have only won one game so far, albeit to one of the pre-season favourites Cornish Pirates.

The teams have previously met on eight occasions with Roth holding a 6-2 advantage. The last time the teams met was six years ago when Roth were on the charge to their first Premiership campaign. That day Waterloo was humbled by 78 points to 10 with the highlights being a hat trick from Doug Trivella and 10 conversions from Mike Umaga.

A similar score line on Saturday would be nice, although unlikely. However if Roth are to be taken seriously as Championship contenders, then games like these simply must be five pointers. No disrespect intended to Waterloo.

Prediction: Roth by 14

Other Nat 1 fixtures this weekend

Bedford v Exeter

London Welsh v Doncaster

Moseley v Pertemps Bees

Plymouth Albion v Coventry

Sedgley Park v Otley

Sun 1 October 06

Cornish Pirates v Newbury

Nottingham v Leeds