Gloucester v Bordeaux - Amlin Challenge Cup match preview
Jimmy Cowan will make his first start for Gloucester in Thursday's Amlin Challenge Cup outing against Bordeaux.
Last Updated: 18/10/12 7:32pm
The talented No 9 has made two appearances off the bench since making the switch from the Highlanders - however he gets his chance to start as one of eight changes to the Gloucester line-up following the 11-6 win over Mont de Marsan.
Cowan will partner Billy Twelvetrees at half-back, with James Simpson-Daniel coming in on the wing.
It is in the pack, though, where director of rugby Nigel Davies has made the majority of changes following the war of attrition at a rain-soaked Stade Guy Boniface last time out.
Dan Murphy, Huia Edmonds, Akapusi Qera, Ben Morgan and captain Jim Hamilton all come into the starting XV.
Bordeaux arrive at Kingsholm on the back of a 43-16 home defeat to London Irish - however they have opted against making wholesale changes to their line-up.
Pumas international Nicolas Sanchez is handed the No 10 jersey, while Franck Labbe, Yassin Boutemane and Damien Larrieu come into the pack.
Gloucester: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Tim Molenaar, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Billy Twelvetrees, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 1 Dan Murphy, 2 Huia Edmonds, 3 Shaun Knight, 4 Will James, 5 Jim Hamilton (capt), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Ben Morgan.
Replacements: 16 Koree Britton, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Tim Taylor, 23 Rob Cook
Bordeaux: 15 Darly Domvo, 14 Avesini Vasuinubu, 13 Charles Brousse, 12 Michel Denetre, 11 Thierry Brana, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Julien Seron, 1 Franck Labbe, 2 Fabien Rofes, 3 Yassin Boutemane, 4 Carolis Navickas, 5 Francois Tisseau, 6 Gauthier Gibouin, 7 Rohan Kitshoff, 8 Damien Larrieu.
Replacements: 16 Stephane Fort, 17 Laurent DelBoulbes, 18 Jefferson Poirot, 19 Andrew Chauveau, 20 Felix Le Bourhis, 21 Francesco Favaro, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Hugh Chalmers.
What they said...
Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies
"Not many of their players had played at the start of the season so it's not easy to take too much from their game last week.
"They'll probably be a bit disappointed with the way they went against Irish, and we'll expect a bit of a backlash from them.
"We've selected quite a different XV, a XV we think can do a job for us and it's really about us performing and moving us forward."
