Plymouth Albion trio ruled out of Leeds match with injury

HERBIE STUPPLE, Rhodri McAtee and Paul Bailey all miss Plymouth Albion's home match against Leeds tomorrow due to injury.

Stupple has a shoulder problem, McAtee a damaged knee and Bailey a sore hamstring.

Their injuries allow Rupeni Nasiga, Tom Bowen and Toby Howley-Berridge to come into the side.

Fijian forward Nasiga and former Cambridge centre Howley-Berridge will be making their first league starts for Albion.

Albion also make two unenforced changes, with Lloyd Fairbrother replacing David Morton at prop and Ruairi Cushion taking over from fellow Irishman Paul Rowley at scrum-half.

Albion coach Nat Saumi said: "Dave (Morton) did a tremendous job last week. He can play either side of the scrum and we know his capabilities.

"But it will be good to see how Jack (Andrew) goes with Lloyd (Faibrother).

"We want to give Jack another game. Players need at least two games."

He added: "Cush (Ruairi Cushion) also needs a game.

"He has not played much since after picking up a shoulder injury at the start of pre-season."

On the enforced changes, Saumi said: "Paul Bailey has been struggling with his hamstring and we can't have people who are not 100 per cent fit.

"We have got Keni (Fisilau), but he has said he wants the young boys to have a go and that's why Toby gets a start. It is a good chance to have a look at him.

"And Herbie is having a scan on his shoulder. His calf is fine but he realised his shoulder was also sore. That's why Rupeni starts and Harrison Tovey comes onto the bench.

"Rhodri has a knee injury and has been told to rest. It is just badly bruised," added Saumi.

"Hopefully, he will be okay for next week."

Dual-registered fly-half Henry Slade is added to Albion's bench after missing last week's match due to his commitments with Exeter Chiefs.

Albion beat Leeds 25-20 at Brickfields last season and scored four tries.

That continued Albion's impressive record over Yorkshire teams last term.

Leeds, Doncaster and Rotherham all lost at Brickfields in 2011/12 and Saumi would like another Yorkshire hat-trick this year.

Albion have already beaten Doncaster in their opening home match, so they are a third of the way there.

"I looked at our record against Leeds last season and we beat them down here and played well at their place," said Saumi. "Not finding touch (from a penalty) cost us the game up there.

"The boys are really looking forward to this game.

"They know they did well last Sunday despite losing to the Pirates and everyone is positive.

"We want to try and beat Leeds again here at Brickfields.

"Home games are crucial.

"As I said before, we want to win all our home games.

"Hopefully, we can reward the supporters who went last week with a good performance and a win tomorrow."

He added: "Leeds have been in the Championship and the Premiership and they have got a good academy. They have got players who have played top-flight rugby.

"It will be a good challenge for us."

Albion: Louis Messer, Jack Arnott, Toby Howley-Berridge, Bevon Armitage, Tom Bowen, Paul Roberts, Ruairi Cushion, Jack Andrew, Jon Vickers, Lloyd Fairbrother, Brett Beukeboom, Rupeni Nasiga, Sean-Michael Stephen (capt), Sam Hocking, Aaron Carpenter. Reps: Paul Rowley, Henry Slade, Keni Fisilau, David Morton, Tom Cowan-Dickie, Harrison Tovey, Ien Ascroft-Leigh.