Preview: Gloucester v Northampton
Iain Balshaw will switch from the wing to full-back when Gloucester face Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership clash at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Iain Balshaw will switch from the wing to full-back when Gloucester face Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership clash at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Although not a serious injury, Olly Morgan has tweaked a hamstring and misses out as Gloucester aim for their fifth successive victory in all competitions and eighth in nine matches.
It means Matthew Watkins keeps his position on the wing and Lesley Vainikolo returns to the starting line-up.
The rest of the back-line remains the same as the one that started against Bristol last weekend in Gloucester's 39-10 victory. Mike Tindall will skipper the side from the number 13 position in a centre combination with Anthony Allen.
Ryan Lamb, who will start for the seventh time in eight games, will partner Dave Lewis at half-back. Lewis retains his place at scrum-half for the third successive match, despite the fact Rory Lawson is back from international duty with Scotland.
Head Coach Dean Ryan has made changes to his forward pack as welcomes back his international contingent from Scotland and Italy.
Tighthead prop Carlos Nieto will make his first start since Gloucester's 11-10 win over Newcastle in the EDF Energy Cup in place of Jack Forster. He will partner hooker Olivier Azam and loosehead prop Nick Wood.
There is one change at lock, where Marco Bortolami comes in for Alex Brown, who is ruled out with a jaw injury. Bortolami will partner Will James. Bortolami's last start for his club was in Gloucester's 25-20 win over the Dragons in October.
Gloucester's back row will be made up of Peter Buxton, who scored twice last Friday, Alasdair Strokosch will wear seven because of the knee injury to Andy Hazell and Luke Narraway will complete the pack at number eight.
“We have maintained some of the things we prioritised at the start of the season but at the same time combined it with elements of our game we are more comfortable with,” said Ryan.
“What we have tried to do is understand the balance between certain areas of our game and ensuring that we remain competitive. We have done that better since Saracens and we must try and move that forward again against a good side.
“The November window of internationals has given us a really good insight into where we are and we have moved through it pretty well with players like Dave Lewis really establishing themselves as Premiership-quality players. We are in a pretty healthy position and must kick on from that now.
“Northampton will create a different threat to Bristol, they have some very creative runners and are really well coached by Jim Mallinder – he is someone I have a lot of time for and has done a great job for the Saints.
“But we have established some momentum and confidence over the last few weeks and we must aim to build on it tomorrow.”
On the bench, hooker Scott Lawson will be partnered by prop Alasdair Dickinson, who is back from international duty. The other forward replacements are lock Adam Eustace and back rower Apo Satala.
The three-quarter replacements are scrum-half Rory Lawson, centre Olly Barkley and utility back Willie Walker, who returns to the squad for the first time in three weeks.
Meanwhile, Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder called on the squad to put in an 80-minute performance for the Guinness Premiership Round Eight match.
Last week at Franklin's Gardens, Saints trailed Bath at half-time only to turn the game around and have the league leaders happy to leave with a draw.
Now Mallinder is asking his players to replicate the character shown during last week's second half for the entire contest at Kingsholm.
“We've spoken as a squad about playing for the full 80 minutes and this is something we will have to do tomorrow,” he said.
“Gloucester have hit a good run of form and we're expecting them to come out tomorrow and try to play some good rugby. Their forwards produce good ball and half-backs Dave Lewis and Ryan Lamb like to bring their backs into the game.
“Kingsholm is a great place to play rugby. Gloucester have passionate fans who create plenty of atmosphere. It will be a big occasion which we are approaching positively and with belief in ourselves and what we can do as a team.”
Form: Gloucester Rugby have won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, and have not lost at Kingsholm since Leicester were the visitors on the opening weekend of the season. Northampton Saints' only victory in their last four encounters was 33-20 at home to the Scarlets in the EDF Energy Cup. Away from home it's a similar story with just one win from their last six trips. Gloucester have taken five of the last seven encounters with the Saints, whilst Northampton's only triumph at Kingsholm since 2000 was 26-18 in the Premiership on 12 March 2005.
Gloucester: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Matthew Watkins, 13 Mike Tindall (c), 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Will James, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Adam Eustace, 19 Apo Satala, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Olly Barkley, 22 Willie Walker.
Northampton:15 Stephen Myler, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Bruce Reihana (c), 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Ben Foden, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Scott Gray, 6 Mark Easter, 5 Christian Day, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Tom Smith.
Replacements: 16 Paul Shields, 17 Barry Stewart, 18 Soane Tonga'uiha, 19 Alex Rae, 20 Mark Hopley, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Nils Mordt.
Date: Saturday, 29 November
Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 16:30 GMT
Referee: Rob Debney
Touch judges: Bob Mullis, Roger Baileff
Assessor: Ed Morrison
Television match official: Matt Peters