Champ play-off semi-final: Worcester Warriors squad v Ealing

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THREE changes have been made to Worcester Warriors' squad for their play-off semi-final against undefeated Ealing Trailfinders.

Warriors will travel to first-placed finishers Ealing tomorrow (Saturday, May 23) to compete for a spot in the Champ Rugby finals against the league's first-placed finishers.

Ealing's league finish saw them secure a bye to the semi-finals of the play-offs, while Warriors had to earn their place by triumphing over Chinnor in the quarter-finals, securing a 35-29 home win.


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Warriors' squad is largely unchanged from the quarter-finals, with head coach Matt Everard explaining that the players who claimed victory had earned the right to pull on the shirt once more.

"(There is) good consistency from Saturday in regards to our performance," Everard said ahead of the match.

"The first thing we will review as a team, as a club, is our physicality and our physical effort.

"I thought that was absolutely superb on Saturday (against Chinnor), so those that went and put that out there, those guys definitely deserve to wear the shirt again and represent the club and the fans again."

Read more: Everard - All the pressure is on "clear favourites" Ealing for play-off clash

Two of the three changes come in the starting line-up, as Fraser Balmain returns from his HIA to go straight into the side, replacing Ashley Challenger.

Hugh Bokenham comes off the bench to start, replacing Matt Rogerson who went off injured in the quarter-final.

Côme Joussain comes into the bench to take Bokenham's spot as a replacement.

The final change comes in a straight swap with Finn Haynes replacing Jasper Spandler, after the loanee hooker was recalled by Bath.

Read more: Four Worcester Warriors players named in Champ Rugby team of the season

Balmain's return to action sees him line up in the front-row alongside Billy Keast and Austin Wallis.

The second-row pairing of Hallam Chapman and James Tyas remains in place from the quarter-final, with Tim Anstee and captain Matt Kvesic once again starting on the flanks.

Bokenham comes into the side to round out the pack.

Worcester Warriors' squad to play Ealing Trailfinders in the Champ Rugby play-off semi-finals on Saturday, May 22 (Image: Newsquest)

Read more: Warriors announce retirement of former international who had "huge" impact the side

The Welsh half-back pairing of Lloyd Williams and Will Reed stays in place, with Billy Twelvetrees and Siva Naulago again starting in the centres alongside the same back three of Josh Bassett and Jake Garside on the wings and Louis Brown at full-back.

On the bench Haynes and Joussain are joined by Livai Natave, Tim Hoyt, Thabo Ndimande, Will Lane, Tiff Eden and Rory Taylor.

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