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London Irish kick-off their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign by welcoming Italian side Rovigo Rugby to Reading on Sunday. - 17/10/2014 16:19
London Irish kick-off their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign by welcoming Italian side Rovigo Rugby to Reading on Sunday.
The Madjeski Stadium clash will be the third encounter between the two teams. Irish have dominated the tie in the past scoring 101 points across the two meetings.
It is no surprise that the Exiles have emerged victorious in the two matches so far having scored 15 tries, the Italians are yet to cross in this fixture.
Ofisa Treviranus has boosted Irish with his return from a rib injury and will start as Brian Smith looks to rest some players who have started all six Premiership games so far this season. Eoin Griffin will make his debut in the centre and is partnered by Eamonn Sheridan.
Head coach Smith said: “Ofisa is a dynamic ball carrier for us and we could really do with his enthusiasm and energy.
“Grenoble away will be a massive game for us. We will ask ourselves if we need Blair for this game against Rovigo. But some of our back-rowers are going to have to go again. We will bring Ofisa back for this game with a view to getting him in good shape to face Grenoble as well.”
Scrum-half Scott Steele and hooker Gerard Ellis have been ruled out of action by ankle injuries, while full-back Tom Homer is now looking at making his return from a knee injury next month in the LV= Cup.
Rovigo Head Coach Filippo Frati said: “We are extremely happy and proud to be the only team from our League to represent Italy in this first edition of the new European Challenge Cup. The level of this new edition is improved, and I think our Group is one of the toughest.
“We'll start on Sunday against London Irish, a great club with a huge culture and tradition. We are expecting a very tough game at Madejski Stadium, they will want to have a perfect start at home in this new ECC. Our goal is to try to compete for 80 minutes against a team who get use to play at a level, an intensity and a peace, completely different to our domestic League; but this is why we are here and this is the best part of it. “
Match Facts
- These sides have met each other twice before in this competition with London Irish running out winners on both occasions in 2008/09.
- London Irish have lost just one of their last eight in this competition.
- London Irish averaged the most points and tries per game in last season’s tournament (48.8 and 6.8 respectively).
- Rovigo reached the tournament this year by beating Tbilisi Caucasians in the qualifying playoff.
London Irish romped to a 70-7 victory over Rovigo to capture a dream European Rugby Challenge Cup start. - 19/10/2014 16:59
London Irish romped to a 70-7 victory over Rovigo to capture a dream European Rugby Challenge Cup start.
It was the perfect ten at the Madjeski Stadium, as Topsy Ojo scored a hat-trick and Myles Dorian added the extras on every score for a personal tally of 25 points.
The plucky Italians did snatch a try at the end of each half, but the Premiership side were far too string for their Pool One rivals.
Ojo got London Irish off to a flying start with his first try after five minutes. The former England wing finished off a flowing backs move at the corner to score and Dorrian added the extras for an early 7-0 lead.
The Italians kept the floodgates shut for 15 minutes at the Madjeski Stadium before Dorrian claimed his side’s second try. Eoin Griffin powered 50 metres downfield after making a clean break in midfield and released the outside half who waltzed home and converted his own try.
Ojo had his second moments later Kieran Low trundled up-field, the winger was released and ran in a simple score. But he was not done there. Thomas O’Leary took a cheeky quick-tap to set the Irish back line moving, Ojo was on the end of the move to score his hat trick and the bonus-point try before the break.
Griffin crossed for a dream debut try two minutes after the restart after a pin-point cross kick from Dorrian. Rovigo finally got some reward for their gutsy display when captain Luke Mahony crashed over at the back of a rolling maul.
But the Exiles were too strong as Leo Halavatau got in on the act before Keiran Low and Tom Guest also ran in easy scores.
Dorrian maintained his impeccable goal-kicking throughout, adding the extras to all eight of the hosts’ tries.
Dan Leo and James Short wrapped up the mammoth victory for Brian Smith’s men and the ever reliable Dorrian slotted both conversions. But the Italians clawed one back at the death to take the final score to 70-14.
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