Bristol v Gloucester: Teams
New signing Nathan Brew is included in Bristol's squad for the visit of Gloucester.
Last Updated: 26/12/08 2:30pm
New signing Nathan Brew is included in Bristol's squad for the visit of west country rivals Gloucester on Saturday.
The Guinness Premiership's bottom team were buoyed by the 20-20 draw at Worcester last time out, but still have just one win to their name so far this season.
Brew's inclusion on the bench is the only change from the backline that did so well at Sixways, while up front Mark Regan and Alex Clarke are replaced in the front row by Scott Linklater and Darren Crompton.
Head coach Richard Hill said: "It's often tight between ourselves and Gloucester at the Mem and we'll have to have a careful look at how London Irish beat them.
"Our defence has let us down against them in the past and, if you look at recent games between the two teams, their points have often come from our mistakes. We've made them look good and they take their chances.
"Hopefully, we're starting to get a bit meaner now in terms of conceding tries and we need to build on our defensive display against Worcester which was much better but not perfect. We'll have to take it up a couple of notches against Gloucester."
Boost
The Cherry and Whites welcome Iain Balshaw into the backs following a groin injury picked up against Northampton at the end of November and the former England international replaces Mark Foster on the wing.
Balshaw will be joined in the back three by Lesley Vainikolo and full-back Olly Morgan, while head coach Dean Ryan has made two other changes in his backline from the 42-12 defeat at the Madejski Stadium, Gloucester's heaviest since 2004.
Olly Barkley, who was struck down by illness, returns in the inside centre position in place of Matthew Watkins and Rory Lawson replaces Gareth Cooper at scrum-half.
Dave Lewis comes onto the bench in place of Cooper, Lawson will partner Ryan Lamb and Mike Tindall will skipper the side from the outside centre position.
Overhaul
Injuries up front mean Nick Wood is the only surviving member of the front row that started on Saturday. Hooker Olivier Azam is back in place of Scott Lawson, while Carlos Nieto comes in for Greg Somerville, who has been ruled out for two months with eye damage.
Will James replaces Marco Bortolami alongside Alex Brown in the second row and there are two changes in the back row, although one is positional. Alasdair Strokosch, on the openside flank last Saturday, returns to his favoured blindside spot after an ankle injury ruled out Peter Buxton.
That means Apo Satala starts in the number seven shirt and Luke Narraway completes the line-up at number eight.
On the bench, hooker Andy Titterrell returns to the squad and is joined by prop Alasdair Dickinson, Marco Bortolami and Adam Eustace.
The three-quarter options are scrum-half Dave Lewis, who returns to the squad for the first time in a fortnight, utility back Willie Walker and centre Matthew Watkins.
"There have been some upset and angry people about the place following last Saturday's defeat," Ryan said.
"I don't want us to lose that feeling after one game or one performance because it should act as a driver for us for a long time to come.
"That has to come out this weekend because there are certain elements that must be present in your game when face a derby of this magnitude. Bristol are a massively competitive side at home and got two very good points last weekend so that challenge to us is obvious."
Bristol Rugby: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Luke Eves, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Shaun Perry (c), 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Alfie To'oala, 6 Nathan Budgett, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Mariano Sambucetti, 3 Jason Hobson, 2 Scott Linklater, 1 Darren Crompton.
Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, 17 Mark Irish, 18 Dave Attwood, 19 James Phillips, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Adrian Jarvis, 22 Nathan Brew.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Iain Balshaw, 13 Mike Tindall (c), 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Apo Satala, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Will James, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Adam Eustace, 20 Dave Lewis, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Matthew Watkins.