Ampthill make the short trip to Bedford in Round 16 of Champ Rugby on Friday night with Head Coach Dave Ward naming a side with seven changes from the team that faced Worcester last weekend.
Seb Smith returns at hooker after missing the Warriors game with Kiwi Harrison Courtney at loosehead and Jevaughn Warren at tighthead. Wared names a familiar lock partnership with Tongan international Justin Mataele partnering Samoan Totoa Auvaa in the engine room. Ollie Mullarkey impressed against Warriors and switches to the blindside this week allowing talisman Tino Mapapalangi to return at number eight having missed the last three games, whilst vice-captain Charles Rylands continues at seven.
In the back division, Efan Jones returns at scrum-half with player coach Louis Grimoldby at ten. Captain Fraser Strachan partners Sione Va’enuku in midfield whilst a back three of Mason Cullen, Oscar Wilson and Josh Barton will look to manage the Bedford kicking game and get the Mob on the front foot.
Starting XV
1 Harrison Courtney 2. Seb Smith 3. Jevaughn Warren 4. Justin Mataele 5. Totoa Auvaa 6. Ollie Mullarkey 7. Charles Rylands (vc) 8. Tino Mapapalangi 9. Efan Jones 10. Louis Grimoldby
11. Oscar Wilson 12. Fraser Strachan (c) 13. Sione Vaenuku 14. Mason Cullen 15. Josh Barton
Replacements:
16 James Isaacs 17. Rich Barrington 18. James Johnston 19. Jake Parkinson 20. Harrison Dakin
21. Rory Morgan 22. Joe Heslop 23. Sam Kildunne
