Richard Hill makes three changes to his Bristol Rugby starting line up to face London Wasps on Sunday with the most significant seeing Tommy Hayes get his first league start at fly half.
Apart from former Glasgow Hawk Hayes’ debut, the back line is unchanged. Brian Lima is still not risked after his recent head injury with Sam Cox and Rob Higgitt teaming up again in the centre.
The front five in the pack is also unchanged but the back row is rejigged for this vital GUINNESS Premiership fixture.

Craig Short comes in for Joe El Abd on the openside and Dan Ward-Smith replaces Geraint Lewis at number eight. Both players had successful outings for the United team in the A league this week.

There is one further change on the bench with Vaughan Going taking over from Mark Denney. Going is now fully recovered from a knee injury and Denney tweaked a calf in training this week.

It’s a tough fixture for Bristol who are yet to win still in 2006 although they ran Wasps close at the Causeway back in October with Wasps winning 21-16.

However, Richard Hill was in positive mood today:

"I was going to make changes, win or lose against Leeds, because it was the right time to do it. And, one or two players have been knocking on the door with regard to selection."

"Tommy Hayes has been waiting a long time, he's been very patient. I haven't changed the ten because Jason Strange has done very well but it's time to freshen things up a little."

"Shorty has had two good games for the United and Joe has had along hard season getting knocked about. Dan Ward-Smith offers different things to Geraint Lewis which is why he's back in."

"It's only the last two games where we've been disappointing - Worcester and Leeds. We've gone into our shells a little and had that fear of losing rather than going out and trying to win."

"Coping with this sort of pressure is a different mentality and, personally, I think the players have coped well. They're a very tight knit group and I have no concerns at all about the attitude and the spirit in the camp."

This article was posted on 19-Feb-2006, 14:35 by Hugh Barrow.