Debut day for five as Titans launch season

Titans coach Phil Werahiko has picked five of his signings to fill major positions in the Titans’ line-up: Jamie Lennard starts at full back, Neil Chivers is selected at scrum half in preference to Chris Hallam, prop Phil Boulton, a successful product of the Rotherham academy, joins Stuart Corsar and Nigel Conroy in the front row of the scrum, Dan Smith, recruited from Bath, combines with Louis McGowan in the second row and flanker Rob Connolly, who played last season with the Greystones club in Dublin, comes in at the back of the Roth pack.

Werahiko’s first selection has been spoiled by injuries to three of last season’s important players who would have played tomorrow: prop Tom Walsh is out until next month with a torn calf muscle, South African forward Barry Jacobs is suffering from a painful knee, but should be fit for Roth’s first home match a week on Sunday against Nottingham, and three quarter Errie Claassens, the Titans’ most dangerous attacking player.

The South African, who normally plays on the wing but has enough talent to perform well at full back or in the centre, is recovering from concussion, but like Jacobsz returns to the squad for the visit of Notting ham.

As 10 of the side have played in National One before, arguably there’s enough experience to suggest that Roth can produce a good performance in their opening league game which is not only a serious test of Werahiko skills but also for his new signings, seven of whom are on the bench.

"I want Rotherham to maintain their traditional aggressive style.

“We won’t be taking a step back. I am pleased with the progress we’ve made in training this week when we’ve been working on areas that needed improvement.

“Our support play and line-out needed attention and if they can maintain that improvement we’ll be competitive.”

In what should be a close game, the result may be settled by accurate goal kicking.

This season the heavy responsibility lies with new skipper and fly half Michael Whitehead who has been emphasising how essential it is to begin the league campaign with a win.

What’s also hugely important is that the newcomers in the starting line-up, and those on the bench, adjust quickly to the pace and toughness of National One which is a better standard than they’ve been used to, especially in Ireland.

n Titans: Lennard, Feeley, Allen, Blackwood, Griffiths, Whitehead, Chivers, Corsar, Conroy, Boulton, McGowan, Smith, Connolly, Cochrane, McComish. Replacementss: Corrigan, Waterhouse, Dunlop, Grissing, Hallam, Nolan, O’Donnoll or Sweeney.