Super League Preview: London v Catalan

London entertain Catalan in the unfamiliar surroundings of Esher Rugby Union club on Thursday night.

The game was moved just 48 hours before kick-off, due to concerns over the state of the Twickenham Stoop pitch, which is scheduled to host a Heineken Cup quarter-final match on Saturday week.

It may come as a boost to the Broncos, who are yet to win a home game this season, although they did manage an 18-18 draw with Hull last Sunday, denied victory by a last minute converted try.

Australian scrum-half Craig Gower returns from a groin strain, with Luke Dorn expected to revert back to full-back in place of the injured Michael Robertson.

Catalan are quickly climbing the table after two convincing wins over Bradford and Widnes in the last two weeks.

They won all three meetings between these two sides last season.

London 19-man squad: Bailey, Bryant, Channing, Clubb, Colbon, Cook, Dixon, Dorn, Fisher, Gower, Kaufusi, Krasniqi, Lee, Lovell, O’Callaghan, Randall, Rodney, Sarginson, Witt.

Catalan 19-man squad: Blanch, Pryce, Taia, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Anderson, Maria, Pelissier, Larroyer, Millard, Pala, Simon, Bousquet, Baitieri, Vaccari, Escare.

Prediction: It was hard to see London turning over the Dragons even before the midweek disruption – away win.

Stats:

Catalan Dragons have won their last five meetings with London Broncos/Harlequins (two away from home) – with the capital side’s last win coming as Harlequins, 11-4 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 12 February, 2011.

Super League summary:

London Broncos won 8
Catalan Dragons won 12
London Broncos highest score: 38-16 (A, 2007) (Widest margin: 36-14, H, 2006; 38-16, A, 2007)
Catalan Dragons highest score: 48-22 (H, 2011) (also widest margin)