By Duncan Wood
December 6 2002

Peter Thorburn has named his starting lineup to face Swansea on Saturday. Scott Morgan or Garath Archer will contest the number 4 shirt with a decision due tomorrow. The replacements are yet to be named.

Bristol will keep the nucelus of the team that has done so well in recent weeks together for the trip to Swansea.

Garath Archer, despite last night winning his appeal against his yellow card against Bath, may not feature. Had he failed in his appeal, he would have been suspended for one match.

As it is, the coaching staff will wait until nearer game time to decide whether Arch or Scott Morgan will wear the number 4 shirt and pack down alongside Alex Brown in the boiler room.

The one other change in the starting XV sees one England winger replaced by another. Phil Christophers, who has played a heck of a lot of rugby in the last 12 months, gets a breather and is replaced by David Rees.

The replacements have yet to be named but the names of Christophers, Ross Beattie and Saul Nelson will all feature.

The captaincy is an interesting question. If Arch plays, then he'll start as the skipper. Club captain Ross Beattie is named on the bench. If Arch doesn't start then I wonder if Beattie will be promoted from the bench or whether someone else will waer the armband? Time will tell...

Emiliano Bergamaschi, Paul Johnstone, Darren Crompton, Scott Morgan/Garath Archer (c), Alex Brown, Matt Salter, Craig Short, Rhys Oakley, Agustin Pichot, Felipe Contepomi, David Rees, Daryl Gibson, Andrew Higgins, Brendon Daniel, Shane Drahm

Replacements to be confirmed.