Amlin Challenge Cup preview: London Irish v I Cavalieri Prato
London Irish's squad players get a chance to shine in Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup tie with I Cavalieri Prato.
Last Updated: 12/10/13 1:09pm
The majority of the squad who stunned Harlequins last weekend in the Aviva Premiership have either been given the night off or are on the bench.
Prop John Yapp, who made his first start last week, does play and forms the front row with Jimmy Stevens and Jamie Hagan. Nic Rouse and Bryn Evans are the locks, with Blair Cowan, Jebb Sinclair and Declan Danaher in the back row, with the latter captaining the side.
Myles Dorrian and Darren Allinson make their first competitive starts this season in the halves with Sailosi Tagicakibau and another of last week's heroes Fergus Mulchrone in midfield.
Andrew Fenby, Tom Fowlie and Alex Lewington make up the back three.
Smith told the club website: "We have rotated the squad this week to allow our squad players a chance to show what they can do.
"I Cavalieri Prato will be very passionate and will come to the Madejski looking to cause an upset so we have prepared accordingly for that."
Pool 5 looks like a straight shoot-out between the Exiles and Stade Francais, who open up against Lusitanos XV, a Portuguese representative side making its debut in the competition.
London Irish: 15 Alex Lewington, 14 Tom Fowlie, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Myles Dorrian, 9 Darren Allinson; 1 John Yapp, 2 Jimmy Stevens, 3 Jamie Hagan, 4 Nic Rouse, 5 Bryn Evans, 6 Declan Danaher (c), 7 Jebb Sinclair, 8 Blair Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Richard Palframan, 17 Jonny Harris, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 George Skivington, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Topsy Ojo, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Tomas O'Leary.
I Cavalieri Prato: 15 Toby Browne, 14 Matte Falsaperla; 13 Denis Majstorovic 12 Gabriele Manganiello, 11 Abou Souare, 10 Jacopo Zucconi, 9 Pino Patelli (c); 1 Robi Tenga; 2 Andrea Lupetti 3 Rudy Biancotti 4 Alessandro Boscolo 5 Filippo Gerosa 6 Alfonso Damiani 7 Diego Delnevo 8 Gabriele Cicchinelli.
Replacements: 16 Lorenzo Giovanchelli 17 Cherif Traore 18 Nicolas De Gregori 19 Alberto Saccardo; 20 Leonardo Della Ratta; 21 Alessandro Lunardi 22 Ivan Crestini; 23 Ale Devodier.
