Three Changes For Leeds Carnegie
Leeds Carnegie have made three changes to their side to face Saracens on Sunday 19thSeptember at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, kick off 3pm.
Juan Gomez will return from injury in the pace of Miguel Alonso, whilst Luther Burrell and Alfie To’oala are forced to miss out through injury. Burrell picked up a calf tear in the game against Gloucester whilst To’oala also sustained a strained adductor muscle in the game.
Sean Hohneck and Leigh Hinton have been brought into the squad to face last year’s Finalists and will start the game on the replacement bench. Christian Lewis-Pratt retains his place in the starting line up following his superb debut performance against Gloucester in which he scored 16 of his side’s 21 points, whilst James Tincknell and Steve Thompson are set to make their first starts of the season.
The team in full is:
- Mike Macdonald
- Steve Thompson
- Juan Gomez
- Tom Denton
- Marco Wentzel
- Kearnan Myall
- Hendre Fourie
- Dan Browne
- Scott Mathie
- Christian Lewis-Pratt
- Semi Tadulala
- Scott Barrow
- James Tincknell
- Lee Blackett
- Michael Stephenson
- Andy Titterrell
- Gareth Hardy
- Phil Swainston
- Sean Hohneck
- Rhys Oakley
- Warren Fury
- Henry Fa’afili
- Leigh Hinton
Leeds Carnegie Director of Rugby Andy Key looks ahead to his side’s game against Saracens this Sunday at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, kick off 3pm.
How do you reflect on your start to the Aviva Premiership Rugby season?
It has been a case of mixed emotions following our opening two games of the season. Certainly from a point of view of where the squad is trying to go and where it is developing we are really pleased, but unfortunately at the moment for all that endeavour we have not got the results we would like.
I think everyone knew going to Gloucester was not going to be an easy task, just as going to Ulster in pre season was not an easy task and yet the mentality and the ability of the side is such that it knows that it can compete and has huge confidence and belief in the style that they are trying to play.
Our problem at the moment is that we have leaked a couple of unnecessary tries and yet our defence was an area that was massive for us last year and I am sure it will be again. We are confident that we are going in the right direction and if we can move on and develop as much as we did from the first game to the second game into our third game then I think we will be looking at a good win.
How tough a challenge will Saracens be?
Saracens have done very well under Brendan Venter and his coaching team. They are a very physical side and are very strong in the contact and they play a very uncompromising game early on to see if you succumb to their pressure. They have some very powerful players so we know we have a tough challenge on our hands but we also know that we are more than good enough and when we start to hit our stride we will be playing the style of game that not only we will enjoy playing in but will be good winning rugby.
What changes will you make this week?
Lachlan MacKay won’t be fit for this week but we will welcome back Juan Gomez from injury. You are always going to pick up little knocks that keep players out for one game and last week both Alfie To’oala and Luther Burrell picked up injuries so they will miss out. We will though welcome back Leigh Hinton following the birth of his daughter Isla, so there are only a few players who won’t make it this week through injury and we hope that shortly everyone will be back 100% fit and we can select from a full squad.
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