Sione to return for Albion but forward duo ruled out
TONGAN international Sione Tu'ipulotu is expected to return to the Plymouth Albion team for their match against high-flying Nottingham at Brickfields tomorrow (3pm).
Tu'ipulotu missed last week's defeat at Coventry due to knee ligament damage.
However, Albion will be without flanker Darren Clayton as well as hooker James Owen tomorrow.
Clayton, who has started the last five games, is out with a knee injury.
"Darren took a bang on his knee in the game against the Cornish Pirates, but it has progressively got worse," said Albion boss Graham Dawe. "He is due to have a scan on it today."
Owen, meanwhile, is still ruled out with an elbow injury.
Albion have not brought in another hooker, so prop Danny Porte is set to continue offering cover to Joe Clark from the bench.
Clark, though, will have to pass a fitness test himself tomorrow.
"James' injury is getting better and he did do some light training, but this game is a week too early for him," said Dawe. "But Joe should be okay."
With Tu'ipulotu back fit and Clayton ruled out, Albion make two changes to their team who lost 26-10 at Coventry. Youngster Rory Watts-Jones comes in at number seven for only his third Albion start, while Gary Kingdom drops to the bench to make room for Tu'ipulotu.
Tu'ipulotu will start at 12, with Ben Mercer moving to the wing, Kieran Hallett staying at full-back and Alex Davies continuing at fly-half after making his first start against Coventry.
"Alex came in last week and did well," said Dawe. "He deserves a second crack."
Davies is certainly looking forward to another start – his first of the season at home and against the team he made his Albion debut against.
"It will be good to get a start at home," said Davies. "Hopefully, I can really show what I can do.
Davies impressed in pre-season and when he came on in Albion's opening two games but he then suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for a few weeks.
"I got injured when I thought I was playing well," said Davies. "But these things happen. Hopefully, I can show that form again."
Davies and Hallett have both featured at full-back this season, but tomorrow, like against Coventry, Davies will wear 10 and Hallett 15.
"I do prefer fly-half, but I am comfortable at full-back as I played there before," said Davies. "But Kieran is also comfortable there and having us both in the team is quite a good balance as we can both step in for each other."
Davies also gives Albion another kicking option if needed.
However, he is happy to let captain Hallett retain the role.
"Kieran is a great goalkicker and is our first choice," said Davies. "But I can help out if needed, as can some other players."
Davies knows Albion face a tough task to end their three match losing run against a Nottingham side, who have won seven games in a row.
"Nottingham are a decent team," said Davies. "They have a big, solid pack and we are going to have to try and match them up front.
"I have got a couple of friends who play for them. One of them is Petrus Du Plessis, who was at Sedgley Park last season. I played with him for Lancashire and he is a big ball carrier. It will be good to see him, but we have got to be really physical as they are big and physical."
Davies says all the players want a good performance at home tomorrow after their display against Doncaster at Brickfields a fortnight ago. "We did not perform very well," he said. "We want to prove a point to our fans tomorrow. We feel we owe them."
Albion: K Hallett, B Mercer, K Fisilau, S Tu'ipulotu, L Gibson, R Cushion, M Rice, J Clark, R Hopkins, M Lewis, T Hotson, S-M Stephen, R Watts-Jones, K Marriott. Reps: T Kessell, M Lee, G Kingdom, D Porte, D Morton, T Skelding, W Sprangle.
11 Comments
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by Kelvin Stevens, Brixton
Saturday, October 31 2009, 7:37PM
“Well what can I say, for a start I've been proved toatally wrong when stating Nottingham would take the points.
Fantasic forward play today, worked tirelessly for each other and the well deserved 5 points.
Well done Albion same gameplan for next week?”
by Jason Hart, BRIXHAM
Saturday, October 31 2009, 2:05PM
“Pete , ivybridge .Your entitled to your opinion but to slate players saying they are "poor" .
Well clearly your head is not with your brain .As previously mentioned when the funds to bring named players in, it faltered and those players did not agree with the coaching and style of play so they left .Their is no balance just individual self opinionated ego's.”
by Eric Redman, Dartmouth
Saturday, October 31 2009, 12:34PM
“Well said Andrew. Pete, you've just joined them! Albion has been on the slide for the past 3 seasons or so. What has been the constant contributing factor? The coaching! The only way forward is for a complete clear out of our current coaching set up, throwing money at it isn't going to get us out of this mire. By the way, Mr Dawe has enough sycophants within the club, he doesn't need another!”
by Andrew Goff, I'm Off
Saturday, October 31 2009, 11:49AM
“Pete, I don't go anymore and about 16 others that were in our little group last season ,you talk about finances and resources ,when they had it they still could not get the team to play entertaining rugby .Collectively between that small group were ex-players ,coaches , referees and certain individuals had done all 3 at a very good level .Change is required like Chiefs &Pirates to take the club forward.Bees is a pathetic comparison as their business plan failed with little support going through the gates .It's the support that keeps clubs afloat ,how do you think the tribute divisions get by ,it's the punter and sadly myself and others have left because of the same old same old gameplay ,now you tell me that has changed . 12 tries in 8 games ,says it all really .”
by pete, ivybridge
Saturday, October 31 2009, 10:26AM
“its always the same people placing there boring comments, yeah things are not great but get over it. If you dont like it dont go, some people like myself enjoy going and understand what a tough job these guys are having with the restraints that they are under. do we want our club to be like birmingham? cause last year it nearly happened. this year was always going to be about survival, why is it hard to see?
leeds are at the bottom of prem cause they have the least money and worst players, and they have very good coaches so there you go, money equals players we have none and so we have poor players .”
by leghorn, tavistock
Saturday, October 31 2009, 9:33AM
“GOD is doing the best he can with laughable resources. If he had a good budget i am sure he would be there in the mix.
I have no doubt you will survive but for how long with wealthy clubs climbing the league below.”
by pauly, plymouth
Saturday, October 31 2009, 7:51AM
“Dont worry, Gary,Mark,Jamie and the rest will play, they will come on with about 7minutes left to play when the games already long gone, if history is anything to go by, great coaching/tactics once again boys, Dawesy and his yes men out.”
by peter, north terrace
Friday, October 30 2009, 5:34PM
“have you not worked out the master plan
. boss dosn't believe we can win the next two games so protect his assets. then when the lesser games come along bring in matt hopper, james waterhouse , james owen and a sprinking off whoever is left and bobs your uncle we go on and win into the final eight. and finally we progress to the premiership. time for my pills yet?”
by Kelvin Stevens, Brixton
Friday, October 30 2009, 3:16PM
“This call beggars belief, as stated Gary Kingdom one of Albion's better performers reward = replacements bench.
I'm at a lost of how a player warrants his place.
I'll wait till 4-45 before I make any further comment.”
by Jason Hart, BRIXHAM
Friday, October 30 2009, 2:20PM
“I can't understand how in my opinion Gary kingdom the most consistant player is on the bench against a side to finish in the top 3. Purely idiotic selection as well as coaching / management ,some things never change and saturday's outcome will be no different.Too many yes men and not enough Ba**s .”