HARVEY BILJON has warned that ‘London Scottish are not to be taken lightly’ ahead of Jersey Reds’ tie with the Exiles.
The two sides have experienced contrasting fortunes from their opening two Championship fixtures. Jersey sit top of the pile with maximum points, while Scottish languish second from bottom following consecutive losses.
Despite the disparity on paper, Biljon was keen to remind his men that the league table can be misleading.
‘They are a very dangerous team,’ he said.
‘We need to remember they went up to Edinburgh in pre-season and defeated them, which is no small feat and put 36 points on Bedford last game. You don’t do that if you’re not a good team.
‘A lot will be dependant on how many Harlequins players they have in the matchday squad, so it’s certainly not a fixture we expect to be easy.
‘I see Scottish taking a fair few points from top sides this season.’
The director of rugby has been vocal about rotating the team this week, such is his faith in the entire squad.
He said: ‘The competition for spaces is fierce this year.
‘We have a big squad and there are several guys that deserve an opportunity to show what they can do.
‘It would be easy to stay the same after two solid victories, but we have faith in our personnel and that has been reflected in the squad for Scottish.
‘We have to make sure that everyone stays game fit, so they are ready when called upon and that is impossible if they don’t have minutes under their belt.
‘The Championship is a very attritional league and during the course of a long season, our strength in depth will prove vital in success.
‘The start we have made has been a good one, but I think it’s a great opportunity to give some other lads a chance to put their hand up for the Cornish Pirates game next week.’
Only six Reds have retained their place in the starting line-up to face the Exiles: Scott Van Breda, Alun Lawrence, Ben Woollett, Steve Longwell, Russell Bennett and captain Lewis Wynne.
