Elliott is moving forward

COLIN MCLATCHIE is expecting a 'forwards-orientated' game when London Irish Amateur visit Foote's Lane tomorrow. And the Guernsey coach will have to cope without two of his biggest stars in Matt Morgan and James Regnard as the London Three South-West season resumes following the Christmas break.

Morgan has other commitments while Regnard is in the Carribean getting married.

'We are having to improvise,' said McLatchie.

'We are putting Jim Elliott into the back row. He has the right build to be a flanker, he has often asked me to try him there and he has played that position for the seconds a couple of times as well as in training.

'I think he has got the right mentality to play in the back row and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.'

Elliott could hardly have asked for a more testing first appearance as a first-team forward.

London Irish Amateur defeated Guernsey 26-12 earlier in the season and it is game the coach remembers well.

'We lost it in the second half. We were up by a point at half-time,' McLatchie said.

'They are a very young, very fit, well-drilled side and they have got a great back row. They were very aggressive and great at the breakdown.

'That was where the game was won. Their back row was all over us like a rash and I am expecting much the same again.'

Elliott's move into the pack means captain Andy Bailey will partner Francois Venter in the centres with Alec Bailey starting at fly half.

The Sarnians will look to scrum half Willoughby Bloem to provide the spark. Both he and fellow countryman Venter did not play the first time the two sides met.

'It is difficult because we have so many players unavailable. I have five or six first choice players out,' said McLatchie.

'I am hoping that the two South Africans might be the difference this time, though.'

The game kicks off at 1.30pm.