LAUNCESTON have named their team for tomorrow’s regional One South West opener with Brixham at Polson Bridge (3pm).
The Cornishmen finished fifth last year, one place below the Fishermen, and with last year’s third-placed Chew Valley to visit next weekend, it promises to be an intriguing start for the All Blacks.
Joint head coaches Ian Goldsmith and Ryan Westren give debuts to four of their summer signings, while winger Cohen Larson will hope to make his first competitive appearance off the bench.
Flanker Dom Ellery lines up at openside with former captain Lloyd Duke having missed last weekend’s 35-12 friendly victory at Okehampton.
Mitch Hawken is preferred to Ethan Pearce-Cowley, while as expected, Levent Bulut and Charlie Short make up the rest of the front row.
Dan Goldsmith is partnered by the versatile Alex Bartlett in the second row while Tom Bottoms and vice-captain are at blindside flanker and number eight respectively.
In the backs, George Hillson starts at scrum-half despite having missed the last two games due to getting married and his honeymoon, and he’ll partner captain Tom Sandercock who lines up in his new position at ten.
Last year’s player of the year Cam Fogden is once again at inside-centre and is partnered by the promising Ben Bryant.
Ollie Bebbington starts on the left wing with Zerran Hammond, who joined over the summer from Bude, on the other side.
Argentinian playmaker Jose Juarez lines up at full-back with regular 15 James Tucker having been unable to recover from an ankle injury last weekend.
LAUNCESTON: Jose Juarez, Zerran Hammond, Ben Bryant, Cam Fogden, Ollie Bebbington, Tom Sandercock (capt), George Hillson; Mitch Hawken, Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Dan Goldsmith, Alex Bartlett, Tom Bottoms, Dom Ellery, Brandon Rowley. Replacements: Ethan Pearce-Cowley, Lloyd Duke, Cohen Larson.
BRIXHAM: Joel Ashworth, Matt Crosscombe, Andre Simonetti, Ricky Workman, Kai Kidd, Mitch Pinkus, Jamie Hext; Niall Cooney, Harry Rodwell, Kai Alton, Joel Hempton, Jordan Watson (capt), Jack Dorothy, Jason Capaldi, Tommie Drennan. Replacements: Kyle Cane, JP Simonetti, Connor Doneathy.