WORCESTER'S temporary coach Geoff Cooke has marked his first game in charge of by making six changes to the side which lost 42-0 at Rotherham last week.

The former England boss has taken over first team affairs following the sacking of Les Cusworth and has unveiled radical changes.

He has moved stand-of Tony Yapp to full-back and dropped both captain Bruce Fenley and vice-captain Chris Raymond.

Yapp's move sees Sateki Tuipulotu switch to the wing in place of Mat Walker, while Fenley and Raymond have been replaced by Sililo Martens and Steve Lloyd.

The captaincy of the team has still to be decided.

Flanker Dave Merlin also starts just his third league game of the season and the first since the trip to London Welsh at the beginning of October.

Merlin has been chosen ahead of Lee Denham at blindside, while Nathan Carter will be at open side but both Simon Daws, shoulder, and Brett Scriven, hamstring, are unavailable due to injury.

Cooke's other change to the side has been forced with Shaun Woof starting at inside centre because Andrew Higgins is playing for England in the Under 19 World Cup.

Last week's defeat means Worcester are out of the promotion race but the players need to impress Cooke ahead of contract talks in the summer.

Henley sit in mid-table after last season's promotion from Jewson One.

Worcester: Yapp, Baxter, Myler, Woof, Tuipulotu, Harvey, Martens, Windo, Richards, Collins, Denhardt, Lloyd, Merlin, Carter, Jenner. Reps: Lyman, Raymond, Denham, Hall, Currier, Fenley, Walker.