Pirates Expect It to Be Tough Against Richmond

Next up for the Cornish Pirates is a home game at the Mennaye Field this coming Sunday (ko 2.30pm).

Despite a natural confidence acquired thus far this season, the Pirates will be taking nothing for granted against a visiting Richmond side that won their opener 24-19 against London Scottish but have since lost to Yorkshire Carnegie (24-7) and Doncaster Knights (17-28).

The Pirates and Richmond have met four times in the two years Richmond have been in the Championship. The west London team won both encounters in 2016/17, however the Pirates reversed that trend and were twice victors last season.

With 23 to his name, Richmond’s Rob Kirby is second top points scorer in the Championship this season, 15 points behind Cornish ‘Pirate’ Will Cargill who heads the list with 38.

For Sunday’s encounter the Pirates have made several changes, in the forwards and on the bench, from the squad that faced Hartpury RFC last weekend. James McRae will make his first Championship appearance at No 8 for the Pirates in place of the injured Tom Duncan, whilst flanker John Stevens also gets a starting place in the back-row. Props Tyler Gendall and Billy Keast are named to make their first Championship starts of the season, whilst Alex O’Meara and Jake Ashby will be keen for action off the bench. For the latter it would be a Championship debut.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, player/coach Chris Morgan has commented:

Our result last week against Hartpury was pleasing and the end result deserved. However, we leaked a couple of early scores and our discipline could have been a little bit better.

As for Richmond this Sunday, we have a lot of respect for them. They are gritty, work hard for each other and good at set piece and around the park we are expecting it to be tough.