RGC will look to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend’s Welsh Cup loss to Cardiff when they travel to Llandovery in the Indigo Group Premiership on Saturday.
The Gogs hope to make it two league wins out of two having impressively beaten champions Merthyr on the opening weekend.
RGC assistant-coach Latham Tawhai knows it will be a tough test against a team that finished last season in second place.
“Last week’s game highlighted the importance of being accurate and disciplined, particularly when you come up against the cup holders in Cardiff,” said Tawhai. “They are a very clinical side and make you pay if you give them any sort of chance.
“Momentum is another telling factor that people speak of a lot as it can have an effect on your mindset, which in turn affects how you play the game, how hard you work and focus so yes, it does have an influence on things.
“How you get it and keep it when it’s going your way or how you change it when it’s not can come down to experience.
“We worked so hard to get back into the game after going behind early only to take our foot off the gas for just a moment, and Cardiff came right back at us. So a bit of a learning curve for our young squad which we’ll aim to improve on next time out.
“There are plenty of lessons to be learnt from victory and defeat. I thought we scored some very good tries on the weekend and I doubt many teams will get four against Cardiff this season, so that’s obviously a positive. We’ve also identified some key areas we feel we need to be better to give ourselves the best chance of performing well this next weekend.
“Very few teams win away at Llandovery but fortunately for us, we experienced victory there last season so it all makes for an exciting game.”
Sam Rogers is named at full-back, with Afon Bagshaw moving to the wing. The team head to Llandovery (2.30pm) with Andrew Williams making his first start of the season. Backrower Eifion Roberts from Holyhead features on the bench.
15 Sam ROGERS
14 Afon BAGSHAW
13 Tom HUGHES (Captain)
12 Rhys WILLIAMS
11 Rhys TUDOR
10 Billy McBRYDE
9 Efan JONES
1 Joe SIMPSON
2 George ROBERTS
3 Jordan SCOTT
4 Bryn JONES
5 Robin WILLIAMS
6 Andrew WILLIAMS (Co-Captain)
7 Will BRYAN
8 Jordan JONES
Replacements
16 Rhodri KING
17 Jessie WILLIAMS
18 Pedr JONES
19 Eifion ROBERTS
20 Sam WILLIAMS
21 Oscar LENNON
22 Delwyn JONES
23 Harri EVANS
WRU Premiership
Llandovery v RGC
WRU National Plate round one
Bethesda P Dinbych P
COBRA v Pwllheli (12.30 pm)
Dolgellau v Bro Ffestiniog
Llandudno v Caernarfon
Llangefni v Bala
Nant Conwy v Ruthin
WRU Bowl round one
Colwyn Bay v Teirw Nant
Rhyl v Abergele
Welshpool v Bangor
Wrexham v Shotton Steel
Bye: Mold
WRU Division Three North
Pwllheli 2nds v Mold 2nds
Ruthin 2nds v Llangefni 2nds
Wrexham 2nds v Menai Bridge
Holyhead v Flint
Machynlleth v Dinbych 2nds
BUTE ENERGY WELSH CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND CPD Bangor 1876 1 Llangefni Town 1 (Bangor…
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