Rugby preview: Vikings beef up their backline ahead of Bognor visit

Friday 27 September 2024

St Jacques Vikings are looking to bounce back from a difficult away defeat at Eastleigh last weekend, when they host Bognor at Footes Lane.

The Vikings were undone by a poor defensive effort for large parts of the game against Eastleigh Pirates. Understandably head coach Layton Batiste was less than pleased.

With the ball they fared better, as their attacking shape is starting to come together. This was evidenced by the four tries scored, which meant they came away with a bonus-point.

The step up in level to Counties 1 is testing the Vikings, but they are excited to play at home and hopeful of another victory.

“Understandably we were disappointed with the performance last weekend, and we know that Layts [Layton Batiste] expects better of us,” captain Tom Veillard said.

“To Eastleigh’s credit they were a good side who punished our mistakes, but we have worked hard this week in training to fix a few areas where we fell short last week.

“We know that we have to be better defensively. We had a great session with Luke Jones [Raiders defensive coach] on Tuesday, which hopefully will help us sharpen up this weekend.”

While the Vikings have won one of their three matches thus far, Bognor come to Guernsey looking to secure their first win of the season.

Bognor played well against league leaders Havant Seconds last weekend, scoring four tries and coming away with a bonus point.

Last weekend the black-and-yellows were struggling in the backs department, with injuries, illness and unavailability meaning they had to use some forwards in the backline.

Some of those issues have been eased, with the inclusion of two high quality players.

Scrum-half Ben Holland is ready to make his return, having last played in the Fallaize Cup in May. He has returned home from New Zealand for family reasons and will now provide the Vikings with a highly experienced half-back.

This is timely as both Dale Rutledge and Adam Giles are injured. The latter picked up an ankle injury this week and it is not yet known how long he will be unavailable. Rutledge is due back towards the end of the year from his collarbone injury.

Luke Sayer is a former star of Guernsey Raiders, now one of the backs coaches for the Vikings, and this weekend will lace up his boots once again.

With the unavailability of several players, including Taylor Quate, Ed Duerden and Gearoid Lee, Sayer will step in at centre.

In the forwards, Dan De Kock is named in the side, having shaken off illness that has kept him out of the last two matches. He starts at hooker, alongside Nesta Nyamakazi and JP Phelan.

Tom Creed also returns having missed last week’s match. He is an important player for the Vikings, as he brings physicality and experience to the side. He partners with Keiran Williamson in the second-row.

The theme of a big physical pack continues, as Jacob Smith, Angus MacCallum and Chris Croft complete the back-row.

Club vice-captain Croft will be making his 50th appearance for the Vikings.

Veillard steers the ship from his usual flyhalf position, whilst Joe Le Roux joins Sayer in the centres.

On the wings Barney Paul and Sam Ferry start, both having missed last weekend. Paul has not played this season, but will operate as a hybrid player in both the backs and forwards this campaign.

Matt Lomas-Lloyd covers the back-field at full-back.

Kick-off is 1pm, with Guernsey Raiders vs Canterbury to follow at 4pm at Footes Lane.

Vikings (1-15): Nyamakazi, De Kock, Phelan, Creed, Williamson, MacCallum, Croft, J Smith, Holland, Veillard (c), Paul, Sayer, Le Roux, Ferry, Lomas-Lloyd. Replacements: Bray, Yarwood, Carre