PREVIEW: Bedford Blues v Birmingham & Solihull
Change will be the order of the day for the Bedford Blues as they prepare to welcome Birmingham & Solihull to Goldington Road.
The Blues produced a poor performance as they crashed to a 28-17 defeat at London Welsh last weekend, a result that will lead to director of rugby Mike Rayer shuffling his pack on Saturday.
He said: "We need a response and there will be changes. We wouldn't be doing our duty as coaches if we didn't look at things and last week wasn't good enough.
"No-one can turn up and have a divine right to pull on the shirt and a shake-up could be just what we need.
"The likes of Darryl Veenendaal and Brad Davies need a run, Luke Fielding and Duncan Taylor could come in, as could James Knight.
"I can't put a finger on what went wrong at Welsh, it could've been a hangover from the Bristol game or a bit of complacency, but it can't happen again.
"It pains me to say it, but they looked like they wanted it more. Two-thirds of our side were nowhere near their potential, our decision-making was poor and the thought processes not what they should be.
"There was no clarity of thought and although our defence was all right, Welsh didn't have to work for their tries. If sides go through five or six good phases and score then fair enough, but not if they don't have to work hard."
Birmingham will arrive in Bedford with a record that shows five defeat from five, but that doesn't mean that they will be taken lightly.
Rayer continued: "There is pressure going into the game. We want to win and they've got nothing to lose.
"We won't underestimate them and it is important that we get our own house in order."
There is also the factor of Ladies Day at Goldington Road and Rayer hopes that it will spur his charges on.
He added: "It might be a distraction, but if we take care of the rugby then everything else will go well.
"We're doing it for the right reasons, to raise money for a worthwhile cause and to get more ladies into the ground. Hopefully it will lift the players."
The Blues will play in a unique set of pink shirts which will be auctioned off after the game, with all of the proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care.
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Weather for Biggleswade
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
