Preview: Gloucester v Biarritz
Ryan Lamb will wear the number ten shirt when Gloucester begin their Heineken Cup campaign against Biarritz at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Ryan Lamb will wear the number ten shirt when Gloucester begin their Heineken Cup campaign against Biarritz at Kingsholm on Saturday.
He will form a half-back partnership with Gareth Cooper as Head Coach Dean Ryan names his strongest possible line-up for the visit of the French side.
Outside Lamb, Olly Barkley will form a midfield partnership with captain Mike Tindall, while Ryan names his in-form back three of James Simpson-Daniel, who has 17 Heineken Cup tries in 25 games, Iain Balshaw and full-back Olly Morgan.
There are also changes to his forward pack. Carlos Nieto returns at tighthead for the first time since Gloucester's Guinness Premiership victory over Harlequins last month after recovering from a strain in the lower part of his back.
“This competition has the best players in the world playing in it and some of the pool games and then the progression games are enormous – Saturday is no exception,” Ryan said.
“Biarritz have a lot of experience, they have contested semi-finals and finals and their squad is there to be seen but it is up to us to get off to a good start at home against them.
“The challenges in the Heineken Cup are obvious but we want to hold onto key characteristics that make our game a threat. We have been progressing that way over the last few weeks and it is vital we take that forward on Saturday.”
Biarritz, who have been tipped by many to win this pool, field a side full of international class – but they will need everyone to fire to get a result in England.
Flying Takudzwa Ngwenya gets the nod out on the right wing, with the ever-reliable Damien Traille restored at centre – having been used by both club and country at fly-half over the past two seasons.
England cap Magnus Lund adds a steely edge to the back row, whilst Jerome Thion captains the side from the second row.
Form: Gloucester have had a mixed start to the season, losing two of their opening five Guinness Premiership games. That said they did beat Wasps in the EDF Energy Cup last week to boost spirits ahead of Saturday's game. French side Biarritz started their season so well, but two defeats, to Dax and Clermont, in succession has seen them slip away for now.
Prediction: It will be an epic tussle in the west country, but we are backing Gloucester to edge this one, but only just. Gloucester by 4.
The Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Iain Balshaw, 13 Mike Tindall (c), 12 Olly Barkley, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Jack Forster, 18 Adam Eustace, 19 Andy Hazell, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Lesley Vainikolo.
Biarritz: 15 Benjamin Thiery, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Romain Cabannes, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, 10 Julien Peyrelongue, 9 Fabien Cibray, 8 Jacques Cronje, 7 Samiu Vahafolau, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 David Couzinet, 4 Jerome Thion (c), 3 Mosese Moala, 2 Benoit August, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Benoit Bourrust, 17 Eduard Coetzee, 18 Manuel Carizza, 19 Peio Som, 20 Laurent Tranier, 21 Andrea Masi, 22 Philippe Bidabe.
Date: Saturday 11 October, 2008
Kick-off: 17:30 BST (16:30 GMT)
Venue: Kingsholm
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Touch judges: Rob Dickson (Scotland), Ron Dumma (Scotland)
Television match official: Andy Ireland (Scotland)