RUGBY UNION: Quins opt for Fijian centres (From Bicester Advertiser)

RUGBY UNION: Quins opt for Fijian centres

10:00am Friday 12th October 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

OXFORD Harlequins plan to have two new Fijian centres in their side to host Malvern in National 3 South West tomorrow.

David Johnson will make his debut for the division’s basement boys, while they also hope to have Danny Badham registered in time.

Quins hope the pair will provide some spark to a side who have lost their first six matches and are in need of a morale boost.

Director of rugby Tevita Vaikona said: “We will just have to dust ourselves down and get going.

“The main thing now is to instill some confidence into the players.

“It is not easy, but we have just got to keep going.”

Quins were beaten 18-13 last week at Maidenhead who had also lost their first five games.

“That was a game we needed to win to start our season,” admitted Vaikona.

One area of continuity for Quins is their back row, where Charlie Ward, Tim Knapp and Olly Rees again start.

Wing Luke Manning and lock Marc Copperwheat return to the Witney side as they host Reading in South West 1 East.

Richard Haire and Alex Carlsson come in on the bench as forward and backs cover.

Oxford Harlequins (v Malvern home): H Whittington, Johnstone, Badham, Johnson, Briggs, Hilton, Cosins, Edney, Davies, Kalemani, Neal, Krockford, Ward, Knapp, Rees. Reps from: Brook, Graham, Todd, Stevenson.

Witney (v Reading, home): Monks, L Manning, Strutt, Murton, L Collins, H Lamb, G Campbell, Calley, S Collins, Richens, M Copperwheat, Bennett, Muller, C Campbell, J Hicks (capt). Reps: Fuller, Haire, Carlsson.