RUGBY UNION: Jones is backing Welsh to sparkle (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Jones is backing Welsh to sparkle

10:00am Saturday 12th January 2013 in Sport

London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones makes 11 changes to his starting line-up for today’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash against Cavalieri Prato at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford.

Tom Arscott, Seb Jewell, Nick Scott and Ed Jackson are the only survivors from the Aviva Premiership clash against champions Harlequins last Sunday.

There’s a place on the bench for back row forward Ed Williamson, who returns to action for the first time since sustaining a knee injury against the Italians in October.

Welsh edged a thriller on that occasion at the Stadio Enrico Chersoni, with Alex Davies’s late penalty giving the Exiles a 32-31 win.

“They’re a dangerous side with some very dangerous players,” said Jones.

“It was a great game over there and we received a warm welcome in Prato, which we want to reciprocate on Saturday. We have a few injuries, but we’re fielding a side that can do a job.”

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

London Welsh: Arscott, MacKenzie*, Jewell, Lewis, Scott, Davies, Keats, Bristow, George, Bateman, Brown, Corker, Beach, Denbee, Jackson. Reps: Evans, Moss, Tideswell, Mills, Williamson, Runciman, Davis, Whatling.

Cavalieri Prato: Ngawini, Tempestini, Majstotovic, McCann, Sepe, Ragusi, Frati, Borsi, Lupetti, Roan, Nifo, Boscolo, Damiani, Del Nevo, Saccardo. Reps: Cannone, Giovanchelli, Boggiani, Pelizzari, Patelli, Crestini, Lunardi, Pozzi.

* Denotes full international