ST AUSTELL head coach Sam Parsons hopes tomorrow’s Cornish derby with visiting Launceston (2.30pm) in Regional One South West will ‘provide the perfect game to try and get back on track’.

The Saints edged out Chew Valley in their opener, but were brought back down to earth with a bang in Wiltshire last Saturday as Royal Wootton Bassett ran out emphatic 54-29 winners.

That said, St Austell still came away with a bonus-point courtesy of five tries.

Parsons, who guided the Saints to a double over the All Blacks last year in his first season in charge, said: “We spoke in the week that Royal Wootton Bassett away would be a chance to see where we are at as a group. We knew how good they can be and they showed exactly that.

“We were pretty sharp in our attack and to score 30 points away from home and leave six points on the tee gives me huge confidence going forward, but I have challenged the lads this week to up our physicality across the board on both sides of the ball. There were glimpses of hesitation so we have looked to address that this week.

“We have had a little bit of unsettled start in terms of players coming in and out, so it’s been great to have another couple sessions with the new lads and look through areas we needed to put right.”

With the season delayed by a fortnight due to the summer heatwave, tomorrow’s match should have been the season opener on Saturday, September 12, however the fact both teams have had a couple of league games should ensure a better contest.

Parsons continued: “It’s almost the perfect game to try and get back on track. It’s always the most exciting fixture of the season and easily the easiest game to get up for. However, the focus doesn’t change in terms of getting our game onto the field. It will be all about the side that manages emotions and can settle into their rhythm the quickest.

“Launceston come off the back of a great win last week so we expect them to be bouncing, but in a way that will only fire the lads up more. We all love these occasions and I know their boys do to, so it will be a typically brutal game.”

Parsons has mixed news on the availability front as they make three changes.

Prop Matt Boothby and full-back Archie Bees are both back from Australia and go straight into the starting 15, however Hector Bright suffered a nasty cut last weekend and isn’t risked as Adam Powell lines up in the six shirt.

Boothby replaces Charlie Nicholson, while fly-half Tom Tanswell has been recalled by Camborne which ensures a big switch around in the backs as Max Bullen moves to the wing, Dan Tyrrell lines up in an unfamiliar role at outside-centre and South African Neldus Kruger goes to his favoured position of fly-half. Back George Tregilgas comes onto the bench for Parsons.

On his selection, Parsons said: “We’re delighted to have Matt and Archie back around. They know our culture and what we ask from them, and are both quality operators who add plenty to the group.

“As for Hector, it was a tough call. We gave him as long as we could to give him every chance of playing, but it’s a long season and speaking with our physio we decided not to take the risk that could see him miss more games than it needs.”

It’s a huge day for the two clubs as they have agreed to a new Innovation Cup. The scores of both first and second team fixtures from tomorrow, plus the meetings between the two and the Colts on April 27 will decide the overall winners.

St Austell’s Sinners host their Launceston counterparts straight after in Counties Two Cornwall with a 4.45pm kick-off.

ST AUSTELL v Launceston: Archie Bees; Finn Bulley, Dan Tyrrell, Jamie Stanlake, Max Bullen; Neldus Kruger, Jake Walker; Dan Bennett, Connor Wild, Matt Boothby; Tom Daniel, Mark Vian (capt), Adam Powell, Cam Taylor, Kyle Marriott. Replacements: Scott Pearce, Charlie Nicholson, Rory Jago, Sam Stokes, George Tregilgas.