 Partridge, Hodge, Williams and Reed were unbeaten in 2006 |
Olympic champion Steve Williams admits it will be tough for Great Britain's coxless four to complete a second successive unbeaten season. Williams, Alex Partridge, Peter Reed and Andy Hodge are in the coxless four again for the World Cup opener in Linz.
"When you're unbeaten and world champions everyone pins a target on you and takes aim," said Williams.
"We feel we've still got a few seconds in the tank and that we weren't pushed to the very limit last season."
Coach Jurgen Grobler opted against changing his top men's crew despite suggesting it as a possibility over the winter.
Germany and the Netherlands, who took silver and bronze behind Great Britain at last year's World Championships at Eton, are also unchanged.
Great Britain's top women's crew, the quadruple scull, which was awarded a gold medal five months after the event following Russia's disqualification, features one change.
Annie Vernon moves from the double to replace Sarah Winckless, who has undergone knee surgery.
Alan Campbell hopes to retain his overall World Cup title in the single scull, in an event which has attracted 41 contenders.
More than 880 athletes in 380 boats have entered overall, with Great Britain providing 57 rowers in 20 boats.
The World Cup continues in Amsterdam three weeks later and Lucerne in Switzerland in July, followed by the World Championships in Munich in August.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 