Exiles out to salvage some pride

RUGBY:SEILALA MAPUSUA becomes the third player to captain London Irish in as many matches, following prop Clarke Dermody and scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, neither of whom play tomorrow. Pride will demand the Exiles try to bring an end to their double-figure losing streak.

The Ospreys, with Tommy Bowe in their ranks, have a great deal more for which to play, but Irish are not playing as badly as their run suggests. This could be closer than some suspect.

LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Ojo, E Seveali’i, S Mapusua (capt), S Tagicakibau; D Bowden, D Allinson; A Corbisiero, J Buckland, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, M Garvey, G Stowers, S Armitage, C Hala’ufia. Replacements: B Blaney, D Murphy, P Ion, B Casey, J Gibson, A Thompstone, R Lamb, A Lalanne.

OSPREYS: B Davies; N Walker, T Bowe, J Hook, R Fussell; D Biggar, M Phillips; P James, R Hibbard, A Jones; R Jones, AW Jones (capt); J Collins, M Holah, J Thomas. Replacements: H Bennett, D Jones, C Mitchell, I Gough, J Tipuric, J Nutbrown, S Parker, L Byrne.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).

Bath Rugby v Aironi Rugby

The Recreation Ground (2.30).

USA Eagles captain John van der Giessen will make his first Heineken Cup start today for the home side in this Pool Four tie.

Mathematically, Bath could still qualify for the knock-out stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup, but realistically, with a trip to France beckoning next week, they won’t.

Aironi, to their credit, have travelled with a strong side; they may go close to an upset, but even though they have been flaky at home, Bath should have a little bit too much for the Italians.

BATH RUGBY: N Abendanon; M Banahan, O Barkley, S Hape, T Biggs; B James, M Claassens; D Barnes, P Dixon, D Wilson; S Hooper, J van der Giessen; B Skirving, L Moody, L Watson (capt). Replacements: R Batty, D Bell, A Jarvis, I Fernadez Lobbe, J Ovens, C Cook, S Vesty, J Cuthbert.

AIRONI RUGBY: J Laharrague; G Pavan, R Penney, G Pizarro, M Pratichetti; J Marshall, P Canavosio; S Perugini, L Ferraro, L Gamboa; J Furno, C del Fava (capt); J Sole, A Benatti, G Krause. Replacements: F Ongaro, M Aguero, A de Marchi, M Bortolami, S Favaro, M Wilson, R Bocchino, G Venditti.

Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland).

Mike McCarthy will play his 100th match for Connacht in tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Bayonne.

CONNACHT: F Carr; S Monahan, E Griffin, N Ta’auso, B Tuohy; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; B Upton, McCarthy; A Browne, J O’Connor, M McComish. Replacements: A Flavin, R Ah You, R Loughney, M Swift, S Conneely, C Willis, M Nikora, K Matthews.