THE general consensus is that whatever else is happening off the pitch with rugby's governing bodies, some of the best club rugby in the world is currently being played in the Courage League. One dissenting voice might be Clive Woodward, the London Irish coach, after his club's woeful display in going down 66-7 to Harlequins last Saturday.
Woodward threatened to ring the changes during the week and he has done so to a certain extent. Four new faces, including two making their League debut for the Irish, will start against Sale. He has chosen centre Phil Drury and hooker Ivan Mackenzie ahead of Paul Flood and Rob Kellam, who are reduced to sitting on the replacements bench.
Special interest will be taken in the performance of Mackenzie. Despite all the summer acquisitions, the veneer of talent at this particular position is very thin at Sunbury. Malcolm O'Kelly, the former St Mary's lock, has been rested after his appearance in Dublin last Sunday for the Irish XV, which means that Jeremy Davidson moves forward into the second row. Flankers Barry Walsh and Andrew Dougan both start their first league game of the season, the latter in place of the dropped Nigel Richardson.
Woodward has resisted swinging the axe wider in order to avoid a wholesale restructuring but several players, notably the half backs Tim Ewingion and David Humphreys, know that they are under his scrutiny.
League leaders Harlequins, unbeaten after three matches and the London Irish tormentors last week, not surprisingly name an unchanged side, which includes Jim Staples, Michael Corcoran and Keith Wood, to travel to Bristol.
Another Harlequin looking to catch the eye is the former England captain Will Carling. With the announcement of the England squad being delayed from yesterday until Monday, it may be the opportunity he needs to be selected on his playing merits alone for the first time this decade.
The match could have a crucial bearing on the destination of the league title next May. Bristol, with Paul Burke and David Corkery instrumental in their success so far, have rapidly become championship contenders.
Although both sides have yet to face either the reigning champions Bath, the other West Country club fancies its chances of stepping out of the shadow of its neighbour and a win over Harlequins could set them on their way towards achieving that aim.
Wasps, the first division's only other unbeaten team, return to Loftus Road tomorrow to entertain Leicester in another match which probably has title implications despite the early stage of the season. Va'aiga Tuigamala makes his home debut, a statistic that could have the effect of putting several thousand on the gate, and fly half Gareth Rees, Canada's 1991 World Cup captain and the top scorer in Welsh club rugby last year, could prove to one of the most significant signings of the season after his stunning performance against Bath last week.
In the second division, John Hall's money seems to have bought success for Newcastle Falcons and they currently lead the pack. Nick Popplewell again props up their front row as they aim to continue their unbeaten streak against John Gallagher and his Blackheath team.
