PWR – Round Nine Preview
Fixtures
Saturday 7 December
Leicester Tigers v Saracens 12.30
Trailfinders v Sale Sharks 15.00 (live stream)
Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs 15.05 (viewable on TNT)
Sunday 8 December
Loughborough Lightning v Gloucester-Hartpury
It’s Quins’ chance to get some Christmas shopping done early.
The biggest talking-point by far will be the game at Ashton Gate. Just how many people will be attracted there to see the new world hero, Ilona Maher? She’ll be speaking, signing and saluting, but not playing.
Meantime Chiefs have an unbeaten record to defend in their 100th elite appearance. Best of luck to the referee. Oh – but would you believe it? – the authorities have invited Aimee Barrett-Theron to fly in a take charge! Sara Cox is otherwise engaged, looking after a men’s RFU Championship match.
In a nod to the future Dave Ward selects Jenna de Vera, the young Welsh centre, ahead of Amber reed, but he has to make do with a front row made up of English first-choices: Botterman-Atkin-Davies-Bern. Hard times!
Just to give a savour of the quality on view, here are the two teams:
Exeter Chiefs
15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Sabrina Poulin, 13 Nancy McGillivray, 12 Alex Tessier, 11 Katie Buchanan, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson, 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Poppy Leitch (captain), 5 Dorothy Wall, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maddie Feaunati, 8 Rachel Johnson
16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 Mikiela Nelson, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Linde van der Velden, 20 Niamh Orchard, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Gabby Cantorna, 23 Lori Cramer
Bristol Bears
15 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers 14 Courtney Keight 13 Phoebe Murray 12 Jenna de Vera 11 Millie David 10 Holly Aitchison 9 Lucy Burgess 1 Hannah Botterman 2 Lark Atkin-Davies 3 Sarah Bern 4 Hollie Cunningham 5 Abbie Ward (captain 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers 7 Evie Gallagher 8 Row Marston-Mulhearn
16 Jess Sprague 17 Simi Pam 18 Holly Phillips 19 Delany Burns 20 Gabriella Nigrelli 21 Tilly Ryall 22 Amber Reed 23 Jenny Hesketh
For the two sides that fought the battle for a first tournament win last week, neither has an easy turn. At least Tigers are at home, but crucially they are without Meg Jones, and they face proven pot-hunters Sarries, who will be more determined than ever to put recent weaknesses behind them. They had a win over Lightning last week, but the 26 points they leaked showed that weaknesses remain.
Sale visit west London, still looking for a first point. Trailfinders’ pack isn’t yet as solid as the coaches would wish, but they welcome back Abi Burton to the flank. Their approach to the game – let the ball do the work – may prove too much for a Sharks’ outfit that has its limits. Tyson Beukeboom’s red card at the end of the Quins game evens out the prospects a touch.
The Sunday match gives the champions the chance to show they really are a side to fear. But Nathan Smith is building a squad capable of putting dim times behind them. You might like to think of a more damaging pair of centres than Alev Kelter and Emily Scarratt.
Afterthoughts
By Sunday evening, we’ll be halfway through the shortened season.
Good news: in a welcome change of direction, we find no fewer than five women allowed to officiate.
