EDF Energy Cup - : Ashwin & Turner set to make full Bristol debuts at Saints

Mathew Turner - Bristol debut

Ashwin & Turner set to make full Bristol debuts at Saints

3 October 2008, 12:28 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Bristol Rugby Head Coach Richard Hill has rung the changes ahead of his side's opening EDF Energy Cup match at Northampton on Saturday afternoon.

With the opening five rounds of Guinness Premiership action out of the way, a new competition dawns and Saturday sees the first of five clashes between the two teams.

Accordingly, Hill makes several changes to the side that faced Saracens on Wednesday evening but is still able to name a team containing six full internationals.

Several players are making their first starts of the season but Mathew Turner and Chris Ashwin are actually making their full first team debuts for the club.

The side is a mixture of up and coming talent and experience with seasoned internationals featuring alongside several Academy graduates.

Hill admitted when he names his team that securing a win at Franklins Garden is of great importance for the whole club:

"This game is probably much more important now. We need a win."

"It doesn't matter where it comes from. But it will give the club a boost. This game at Northampton is of quite significanct importance."

"Probably, for the first time following the fallout (from the Premiership matches) we will be looking to do well in this competition."

And, on the subject of Mathew Turner who only arrived in the country on Tuesday morning:

"Mathew will start. He will get some game time at Northampton and will also play in the Guinness A League game against Bath on Monday night."

"With the way we are playing at the moment, wingers Tom Arscott and David Lemi are getting plenty of opportunities."

"We are trying to play rugby as much as we can. He will get lots of ball and plenty of opportunities."

Bristol Rugby:

Vunga Lilo; Lee Robinson, Luke Eves, Kevin Maggs, Mathew Turner; Chris Ashwin, Haydn Thomas; Mark Irish, Mark Regan, Peter Bracken; Roy Winters, Robert Sidoli; Matt Salter (capt), Redford Pennycook, Iain Grieve

Replacements:

David Blaney, Alex Clarke, Dave Attwood, Chevvy Pennycook, Sam Alford, Ed Barnes, Greg Barnes