Preview: Gloucester v Agen

Editor

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has made a host of changes to his starting line-up for Thursday’s Challenge Cup clash with Agen at Kingsholm.

There are first starts for James Hanson and Ben Vellacott and first European starts for Gareth Denman and Charlie Beckett.

Only six players retain their places from the team that started in Pau last Thursday – Josh Hohneck, Tom Savage, Jake Polledri, David Halaifonua, Owen Williams and Henry Purdy.

Tom Savage will continue to lead the side which features Ben Morgan for the first time since the opening game against Exeter Chiefs, the number eight having recovered from a calf injury.

Having picked up a losing bonus point in Pau, Gloucester need a win to keep their hopes of making the knockout stages alive

“Ahead of Pau last week, there was a lot of media talk about us just going over there and pitch up and win,” said Ackermann.

“And it didn’t happen, it showed every team will give this competition a go.

“The same applies to Agen. We’re not sure which Agen side will turn up, everyone knows that French sides can be up and down. The most important thing for us as a coaching staff and group of players to look at the first 50 minutes in Pau which wasn’t good enough, we have to improve.

“We have to prepare for the unpredictable but the biggest focus has been on ourselves. Their win last week will give them confidence, it’s an away game for them and they have nothing to lose. The last thing we should do is underestimate them.

“Securing the win is probably the first thing. We can’t start by thinking about scoring tries to get the five points. We have to stick to the principles of our game and build pressure through possession, keeping hold of the ball with good support.”

Meanwhile, Agen have also rung the changes to their run-on side after beating Zebre in their opener last weekend.

In the backs, Loris Tolot takes over from Clément Laporte at full-back while Alban Conduche and Ryan Dubois replace Johann Sadie and Pierre Fouyssac in midfield and Branden Holder comes in on the left wing for Nicolas Metge.

Jérémy Russell and Hugo Verdu are the preferred half-backs. Russell starts at fly-half and Verdu at scrum-half and they replace Mathieu Lamoulie and Lucas Rubio respectively.

In the forwards, there’s a brand new front row with Vakhtangi Akhobadze and Kamaliele Tufele the starting props and Paula Ngauamo lines up at hooker. Elsewhere, Christiaan Van der Merwe comes in at lock in place of Denis Marchois while Léo Ghirard starts at number eight and Yoan Tanga and Jessy Jegerlhener are the two flankers.

The teams:

Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Henry Purdy, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Owen Williams, 11 David Halaifonua, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Jake Polledri, 5 Charlie Beckett, 4 Tom Savage (c), 3 Gareth Denman, 2 James Hanson, 1 Josh Hohneck
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 John Afoa, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Jacob Rowan, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Callum Braley

Agen: 15 Loris Tolot, 14 Lucas Tolot, 13 Alban Conduche, 12 Ryan Dubois, 11 Branden Holder, 10 Jérémy Russell, 9 Hugo Verdu, 8 Léo Ghirard, 7 Yoan Tanga, 6 Jessy Jegerlhener, 5 Corentin Braendlin, 4 Christiaan Van der Merwe, 3 Kamaliele Tufele, 2 Clément Martinez, 1 Meddih Ahaouche
Replacements: 16 Jordan Peyri, 17 Oliver Butler, 18 Corentin Chabeaudie, 19 Cédric Touchkaieff, 20 Pierre Fouyssac, 21 Florian Lanave, 22 Clément Farah, 23 Valentin Saurs

Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gareth John (Wales) Kelvin Shorte (Wales)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)

Photo credit: Gloucester Rugby’s official website