Hull take on the famous old London club Rosslyn Park on Saturday (2pm kickoff). This week’s visitors have quite can pedigree having produced a string of international players over the years including England and British Lions number 8 Andy Ripley.
That was a while ago and much has changed in the last few seasons, but the London side have a maximum 15 points from their first three games and will be looking to continue their winning run. They have a good pack and have scored tries from close and long range, and in off-half Holland, they have a very consistent goal kicker.
However, Hull are learning every week and whilst they should have beaten Darlington Mowden Park in their last home game which would have seen them in mid-table, they have scored 11 tries in their three matches so far which shows they are more than capable of scoring regularly.
This week, centre and co-captain Ali Heard comes back into contention after six months off with a leg injury. Scrum-half Harvey Harding looks to have recovered from a cut to his leg and Latu Maakafi returns to the squad to bolster the back five options in the pack.
Hull will need to make home advantage count and try to maximise their scoring chances. In all the first three games they have worked good scoring opportunities, but have failed to take a few which if taken could have altered the course of the game.
It will be tough fixture, but having tightened up on their lineout possession, Hull have started to give themselves a platform of possession to work from. And if the scrum works as well as it has so far this season, Rossslyn Park may find life difficult against a side the came back very strongly last week to score two converted tries in the last five minutes.
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 