Midfield general Perry returns for Bristol

Bristol Rugby head coach Richard Hill has overhauled his half backs as he goes in search of a second Guinness Premiership win against London Irish at the Memorial Stadium on Sunday.

Out go Graeme Beveridge and summer signing Adrian Jarvis and in come Shaun Perry and Ed Barnes at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, with a mandate to whip up the home crowd and help bank four valuable points.

London Irish are second in the Premiership and travel to Bristol on the back of a comfortable 27-14 home win over Saracens.

Hill's change of personnel has been sparked by a desire to attack the visitors, a plan bolstered by the return to fitness of Perry.

Perry was in England's World Cup squad a year ago but has since suffered two long term injuries (shoulder and throat) and makes his first start of the season.

"Shaun Perry starts and Ed Barnes will be at 10, so we'll have a different pair of half-backs," said Hill. "It's always difficult for half-backs, particularly when you're not winning.

"It's been a tough time for Graeme Beveridge and Adrian Jarvis, but they've both done well under the circumstances.

"However, I think this combination of Perry and Barnes looks exciting and will add to our attacking threats and create space for the outside backs."

Perry's return to the starting line-up clearly excites Hill, a former scrum-half himself. And he believes the whole team will feed off the 30-year-old's enthusiasm.

"He makes a difference," said the Bristol boss. "He will demand high standards from everyone around him. If he's playing with you, you have to lift your standards as he does not accept mediocre level of play.

"He's a bit meek and mild sat in front of the camera. He was unusually quiet and sensible. But when he's out there he's full of energy and you just can't stop him."

Bristol will be up against the Exiles' half backs, England players Shane Geraghty and Paul Hodgson, who both groomed their rugby careers in the city.

Fly-half Geraghty attended Colston's and won the Daily Mail Cup with the Stapleton-based school in 2004 before joining London Irish Academy that same year.Hodgson was an Academy player during Bristol's last spell in the Premiership and was first choice scrum-half during Hill's maiden season at the Memorial Stadium in 2003-04.

Meanwhile, Hill has been working hard on Bristol's defence this week. "For some reason this season we've been guilty of giving away soft tries, particularly from first phase where sides haven't had to work hard for them," he added.

"Often we've had lots of pressure for 10 minutes or more, come away with three points or maybe nothing and then conceded a silly score at the other end.

"We've got to embroil London Irish into an arm wrestle, into real combat."If you stand off them and let them have quick ball they'll cut you to shreds."

Bristol fans will be offered free shirt printing this weekend as part of a promotional event, taking place at the Memorial stadium. For the visit of London Irish, Bristol fans will be able to get a number of their choice printed on the back of their replica shirt, while for an additional £5 a name will be added to the shirt, with proceeds going to the Sue Ryder Care charity.