Gloucester v Exiles: Teams
Gloucester will have to do without 10 internationals when they host London Irish on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Last Updated: 07/03/08 3:32pm
Gloucester's hopes of getting back to winning ways at home against London Irish have been hit by international commitments.
The Cherry and Whites have no fewer than 10 players away with their countries in action in the RBS Six Nations this weekend.
Head coach Dean Ryan has also lost lock Alex Brown to a broken jaw, meaning his strong squad is now stretched to the limits.
"I have never known our resources stretched so far because of our contribution to international sides," Ryan said on the club's website.
"I think it was impossible to plan back in September for the situation we have faced this week and the personnel we have been without as a result.
"We want to create an environment where players push for international honours but it has made our task even more difficult ahead of this game."
Sinbad available
However there was some good news concerning James Simpson-Daniel. The winger was not included in England's 22-man squad to face Scotland and is therefore available for his club.
His return is a much-needed boost as Gloucester hope to rebound from their late loss to Harlequins last Saturday, their third defeat in their last four Guinness Premiership fixtures.
With Brown ruled out Dan Tuohy will make his debut in the pack alongside Will James in the second row.
Andy Hazell returns at openside flanker following a slight neck injury while Akapusi Qera will start his first game at number eight. Skipper Peter Buxton completes the back row.
Gareth Cooper comes in at scrum-half to replace Rory Lawson in a back line missing several big names.
Ryan has selected 18-year-old centre Charlie Sharples amongst the replacements along with two hookers, Olivier Azam and Jeremy Paul.
London Irish were dealt a blow ahead of their trip to Kingsholm when second-rower Nick Kennedy failed a fitness test on a lower limb injury on Friday morning.
Kieran Roche comes in to take his place in one of three changes to the starting XV made by director of rugby Brian Smith.
Argentina international Juan Leguizamon is fit to return to the back row alongside Steffon Armitage and Richard Thorpe.
Fury for Exiles
The other switch sees Warren Fury come in at scrum-half in place of Paul Hodgson, who has been named on the bench for England's Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.
Clarke Dermody is available again but has to make do with a seat on the bench. The list of replacements also includes recent recruit Ross Blake.
Despite facing a weakened Gloucester side Smith is still expecting a tough game for the Exiles in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
"Gloucester have performed well this season and deserve to be top of the league table," he said on the club's website. "They have a richly talented squad with 25 full internationals to choose from.
"Even though some of them will be missing because of the Six Nations, Dean Ryan and his coaches will be able to put out a talented, well prepared team against us.
Gloucester: 15 James Bailey, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Jack Adams, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Mark Foster, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Gareth Cooper; 1 Nick Wood, 2 Andy Titterrell, 3 Jack Forster; 4 Will James, 5 Dan Tuohy, 6 Peter Buxton (capt), 7 Andy Hazell, 8 Akapusi Qera
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Christian Califano, 18 Jonathan Pendlebury, 19 Jeremy Paul, 20 Mike Prendergast, 21 Charlie Sharples, 22 Dan Norton.
London Irish: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 GonzaloTiesi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Mike Catt, 9 Warren Fury; 1 Dan Murphy, 2 David Paice, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 4 Kieran Roche, 5 Bob Casey (Capt), 6 Juan Leguizamon, 7 Steffon Armitage, 8 Richard Thorpe
Replacements: 16 Clarke Dermody, 17 Stuart Mackie, 18 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 19 Gary Johnson, 20 Declan Danaher, 21 Ross Blake, 22 Eoghan Hickey