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London Irish allay cancellation fears by naming power-packed XV

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

London Irish have allayed fears that their final match of the Gallagher Premiership season might not take place as they have named a matchday squad featuring nearly all their star players. Skipper Matt Rogerson had suggested on Thursday that there was still a doubt about the game going ahead as his team hadn’t yet seen physical evidence that they were insured to play.

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“We have asked for tangible evidence that medical insurance is in place,” said Rogerson at the time following a week of negative headlines about the club. “We want to see a physical version or copy so that it is something that we can rely on.

“So far we have had verbal reassurance from the club that it is in place, but the next step for us is to have that reaffirmed with physical evidence. I’m also quietly confident that information should get out to us hopefully over the next 24, 48 hours, which will give us the confidence to go and play the game knowing that’s in place.”

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The concerns at London Irish were ignited after payday last Friday came and went without the 130 players and staff at the club being remunerated. The Exiles are currently the subject of a takeover with American investors, and it wasn’t until Thursday evening that current owner Mick Crossan reportedly stepped in and paid the delayed salaries.

With that issue put to bed for now, it paved the way for director of rugby Declan Kidney to announce his team as planned at noon on Friday. A statement read: “Danilo Fischetti, Agustin Creevy and Oliver Hoskins form the front row, with Api Ratuniyarawa and Rob Simmons in the second row.

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“Matt Rogerson captains the side from the six shirt and is joined in the back row by Juan Martin Gonzalez and So’otala Fa’aso’o. Ben White and Paddy Jackson combine to form the halfback duo, and Rory Jennings links up with Benhard van Rensburg in the centres. Lucio Cinti, Ben Loader and Henry Arundell complete the line-up as the back three.”

Exeter, meanwhile, have made wholesale changes following last Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final loss to La Rochelle in Bordeaux. Just five of last weekend’s starters are retained. Henry Slade is one of them and will skipper the side from centre. He is joined in the backline by winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who is set to make his first-ever Premiership start.

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Up front, Jannes Kirsten is the only confirmed departee who features. Jonny Gray’s knee injury and Dafydd Jenkins’ suspension mean the Chiefs are light in the engine room and he packs down alongside the recalled Jack Dunne.

LONDON IRISH: 15. Henry Arundell; 14. Ben Loader, 13. Benhard van Rensburg, 12. Rory Jennings, 11. Lucio Cinti; 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Ben White; 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Agustin Creevy, 3. Oliver Hoskins, 4. Api Ratuniyarawa, 5. Rob Simmons, 6. Matt Rogerson (capt), 7. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8. So’otala Fa’aso’o. Reps: 16. Mike Willemse, 17. Tarek Haffar, 18. Lovejoy Chawatama, 19. Josh Caulfield, 20. Tom Pearson, 21. Chandler Cunningham-South, 22. Joe Powell, 23. James Stokes.

EXETER: 15. Josh Hodge; 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13. Henry Slade (capt), 12. Ollie Devoto, 11. Tom Wyatt; 10. Harvey Skinner, 9. Stu Townsend; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Jack Innard, 3. Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4. Jannes Kirsten, 5. Jack Dunne, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Christ Tshiunza, 8. Greg Fisilau. Reps: 16. Iestyn Harris, 17. Billy Keast, 18. Marcus Street, 19. Mike Williams, 20. Aidon Davis, 21. Tom Cairns, 22. Tom Hendrickson, 23. Dan John.

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N
Nickers 9 minutes ago
Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

As always with Razor slightly unorthodox with a few surprises. Last year Blackadder was rushed back into the starting 15 after a long injury lay off and no game time, this year on the back of a good body of work in which he was immense in the final he doesn’t even make the squad. But Finau, who possibly wouldn’t have even been starting for the Chiefs if Parker was fit is the only specialist 6 in the squad. Likewise Havili, great season and a great final, much better than last year by all measures but doesn’t make the cut.


6 mid fielders when 4 will do, but only 5 loosies when 7 would be useful -> Maybe Lakai and Parker come in? No 3rd choice at 10 meaning if one of BB or DMac sustain a mid to long term injury there is no one they are specifically trusting to come into the team and be able to close out matches - maybe they think Love is the 3rd best 10 in NZ?


Great to see Tavatavanawai straight in on the back of a huge season - he should 100% be in the 23. There have been players before like Stevenson or Sotutu who had the season of the their lives and didn’t get picked, so this is great and a little surprising to see.


Only 4 locks and no lock cover among the loosies named. This seems like an area we need to be developing more players rather than concentrating the talent pool down further. Maybe when Darry is fit he finds his way back in, but it would be good to see Lord or whoever the 6th best lock is around the squad too.


One thing I continue to find strange about ABs selection going back many years is that they are obsessed with backs being able to cover multiple positions, but they don’t take advantage of this in any way. The fact that we have 3 players who can play 12, and 3 that can play 13, doesn’t stop them from selecting ALB to cover 12 and 13 giving them 4 options at each position - what is the point of this? Likewise Love, I really like him, especially at 10, But they have Jordan, BB, Dmac who all play 15 at test level, as well as JB who is world class at 15 to cover, so why take up another spot in the squad with yet another 15? Why do we need four options for every position in the backs except 10, which is arguably the most important one where we have not been able to develop a new test player for 8 or 9 years.


And unless there is a big change this year they also don’t use all these utility backs to enable a 6-2 bench split, and will instead pick a specialist winger on the bench to come on and play the last 10 minutes.

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