Preview: Gloucester v Wasps
Rory Lawson will skipper Gloucester in one of six changes to the line-up for Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash against Wasps.
Rory Lawson will skipper Gloucester in one of six changes to the line-up for Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash against London Wasps.
Lawson has a new half-back partner as Tim Taylor comes in to replace Nicky Robinson while Tim Molenaar starts in centre alongside Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu instead of Mike Tindall.
Up front, it's a completely new front row in Nick Wood, Olivier Azam and Paul Doran-Jones with the latter making his first appearance of the season.
To complete the changes, Dave Attwood will pack down alongside Jim Hamilton in the second row with Alex Brown moving to the replacements.
“Wasps had a great win against Leicester last weekend so we're under no illusions that they're coming up here this weekend to try and beat us,” said boss Bryan Redpath.
“Last year's result at home was probably one of the toughest ones to swallow and we'll draw on that. A lot hinges upon this game and we have to make sure that Kingsholm is a tough place to come to. That's the challenge.”
Wasps were the last team to win at Kingsholm in the Premiership but Redpath knows his side are capable of performing well against them.
“We were poor against them at home last year but performed reasonably well in the league match and the LV=Cup game down there,” he added.
“We have to get to grips with their blitz defence and focus on what we are, protecting ourselves in the right areas. They have a good back three and Dave Walder's a smart rugby player who kicks very well. We have to control possession.”
Meanwhile, Wasps Director of Rugby Tony Hanks has handed Phil Vickery the captaincy against his former club.
The England and Lions prop will make his 54th club appearance on Saturday, returning to play after recovering from an ankle injury.
Vickery comes in for Ben Broster, who is named amongst the replacements, and is one of six changes to the starting line up following Wasps' 37-30 win over Leicester at Adams Park last weekend. In the front-row, Joe Ward will make his first start of the season after impressing from the bench.
Ward replaces Rob Webber who is named on the bench. In the second-row, stalwart Richard Birkett starts in place of James Cannon, whilst Joe Worsley is joined by Serge Betsen and Dan Ward-Smith in the back-row. Betsen is named in place of club captain Tom Rees, who is rested.
Also returning from injury to collect his first start of the season is scrum-half Joe Simpson. Simpson replaces Nic Berry as Hanks looks ahead.
“This week's game gives us an opportunity to build on last weekend's win and more importantly the second half performance. We have been able to freshen the squad up with a few changes and the likes of Serge Betsen and Richard Birkett are keen to make their mark,” he said.
Form: Wasps have won their last five encounters with Gloucester in all competitions including all four matches played between the two last season. Gloucester have the longest current unbeaten home run in Aviva Premiership Rugby with eight wins and a draw since London Wasps last visited “fortress” Kingsholm on 20 November, and left with a 12-9 victory. London Wasps gained an initial Premiership victory of the season at home to Leicester on Saturday and have won two of their last three away matches.
The teams:
Gloucester: 15 Charlie Sharples, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Tim Taylor, 9 Rory Lawson (capt), 8 Brett Deacon, 7 Andrew Hazell, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Alex Brown, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Nicky Robinson, 23 Mike Tindall.
Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 David Lemi, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Serge Betsen, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (capt), 2 Joe Ward, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Ben Broster, 19 James Cannon, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Nic Berry, 22 Ben Jacobs, 23 Richard Haughton.
Date: Saturday, September 25
Kick-off: 14:30 BST
Venue: Kingsholm
Referee: Andrew Small