Gloucester v Warriors: Teams
England centre Mike Tindall is back in the Gloucester side to face Worcester on Saturday five months after breaking his leg.
Last Updated: 28/09/07 12:33pm
England centre Mike Tindall is back in the Gloucester side to face Worcester on Saturday five months after breaking his leg.
Tindall fractured the lower third of his tibia in his right leg during Gloucester's 19-12 defeat at Newcastle last season but returns for the table-toppers' derby clash.
"It has obviously been a long time coming but I feel fantastic and cannot wait to get back in the side," Tindall told Gloucester's official website.
"My rehabilitation has gone really well, I am in contention at the time we always thought I would be and I am just desperate to get back into the team environment to try and play my part.
"Mentally it can be a hugely frustrating time when you are out of the game for so long which is why I am just so pleased to be fit and available for selection again."
Leon Lloyd is out with a knee injury so Tindall will partner Anthony Allen in the centre.
Head coach Dean Ryan makes one other change in his three-quarters to the team that started against Saracens last weekend.
Winger Lesley Vainikolo is out for a month with a neck injury so Olly Morgan will start his first game of the season at full-back and Iain Balshaw switches to the wing.
There is one change in the forwards, with hooker Olivier Azam starting in place of Andy Titterrell, who moves to the bench. That means props Nick Wood and Carlos Nieto retain their places and Peter Buxton is included in the second row alongside Alex Brown.
Centre Dominic Feaunati is back in the starting side for Worcester's trip to Kingsholm.
Samoan international Feaunati scored a stunning late try to help Warriors earn their first points of the season against Wasps last weekend and comes in for Mark Tucker for the televised derby clash.
Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock makes three changes to his starting line-up, with Ryan Powell named at scrum half. Matt Powell drops down to the replacements bench.
Back rower Drew Hickey also returns after injury at flanker in place of Tom Wood.
"We are all looking forward to it and it should be a fantastic game," said Ruddock. "Kingsholm is a tough place to go, but if we are serious about becoming a real team we have to go down there, present ourselves and put in a great performance."
Gloucester: Olly Morgan; James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall, Anthony Allen, Iain Balshaw; Ryan Lamb, Mike Prendergast, Nick Wood, Olivier Azam, Carlos Nieto, Peter Buxton (capt), Alex Brown, Alasdair Strokosch, Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway.
Replacements: Andy Titterrell, Christian Califano, Jonathan Pendlebury, Adam Balding, Dave Lewis, Willie Walker, James Bailey.
Worcester: Shane Drahm, Thinus Delport, Dale Rasmussen, Dominic Feaunati, Marcel Garvey, James Brown, Ryan Powell; Darren Morris, Chris Fortey, Tevita Taumoepeau, Phil Murphy, Craig Gillies Drew Hickey, Pat Sanderson (c), Kai Horstmann.
Replacements: Tony Windo, Ben Gotting, Will Bowley, Gavin Quinnell, Matt Powell, Mark Tucker, Chris Pennell.