VETERAN fly half Gordon Ross will make his first Aviva Premiership start of the season when London Welsh host Leicester Tigers at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium on Sunday (3.15).

The 36-year-old former Scotland international replaces Will Robinson as one of four changes from the side that lost 71-7 at Wasps last week.

Ross had been expected to focus on his duties as an assistant coach with Welsh this season, but injuries to first-choice fly halves Olly Barkley and Tristan Roberts have seen him re-enter the fray.

Barkley and scrum half Piri Weepu remain the highest profile members of an injury list that Welsh said numbered 15 yesterday.

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Ricky Reeves replaces Pablo Henn at loosehead prop, Nathan Vella comes in for Koree Britton at hooker and Opeti Fonua starts a No 8 in place of the injured Chris Hala’ufia.

New signing, wing Elliot Kear, is named on the bench alongside prop Nathan Trevett, who is set to make his first competitive appearance of the season.

Welsh head coach Justin Burnell said: “Last Sunday hurt hugely; it certainly showed the step up to the Aviva Premiership.

“All credit to Wasps, they were consistent for the full 80 minutes, but the scoreline was unacceptable.

“London Welsh, though, is a remarkable place to work – you have to admire our players and the environment.

“The players were in on Monday, identifying the faults and working hard to eradicate them, while as coaches we constantly keep looking for ways to improve.

“Our next three Premiership games are Leicester, Northampton and Saracens – arguably the three big sides.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this – Leicester have consistently been one of the league’s big boys.

“We’ve got to front up; if we don’t it could be another horrendous day at the office.”

Full back Tommy Bell makes his first league start for Leicester, while England fly half Freddie Burns returns.

Wing Adam Thompstone makes his first Premiership appearance of the season.

Their pack is unchanged from the 21-21 draw with Saracens at Welford Road.

They include England and Lions tighthead prop Dan Cole, who continues his comeback from injury, plus former Oxford University flanker Jamie Gibson.

Italy international back-rower Robert Barbieri and summer signing Laurence Pearce are added to the replacements alongside former Exiles prop Tom Bristow.

The match is being televised live on BT Sport.

SUNDAY'S TEAMS

London Welsh: Jewell, Stegmann, Reynolds, May (capt), Scott, Ross, R Lewis, Reeves, Vella, Vea, Corker, Down, P Browne, McCaffrey, Fonua. Reps: Britton, Trevett, Cooper, Schofield, Pienaar, Rowley, Robinson, Kear.

Leicester Tigers: Bell, Scully, Smith, Allen, Thompstone, Burns, Mele, Rizzo, Thacker, Cole, Thorn (capt), Kitchener, Gibson, Salvi, Crane. Reps: Farnworth, Bristow, Balmain, Barbieri, Pearce, Harrison, Williams, Tait.

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