Gloucester v Worcester: Teams
Dean Ryan has rung the changes for Gloucester's Guinness Premiership clash with Worcester at Kingsholm.
Last Updated: 21/04/09 3:49pm
Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan has made several changes to the team for Tuesday's Guinness Premiership meeting with Worcester at Kingsholm.
The Cherry and Whites go into the fixture off the back of being thumped 50-12 by Cardiff in the EDF Energy Cup final on Saturday.
The challenge of playing two fixtures so close together means that Ryan has to rely upon the depth of his squad, particularly with Gloucester's final regular season game taking place at Wasps on Saturday.
There is a new half-back pairing as Carlos Spencer, cup tied at the weekend, returns to the starting line-up and partners Gareth Cooper.
Mike Tindall and Iain Balshaw are both still unavailable but Olly Barkley starts at inside centre and Charlie Sharples comes in for Olly Morgan at full-back.
Up front, there is a new look front-row in Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson and Carlos Nieto while Adam Eustace comes in at lock. Greg Somerville, Alex Brown, Luke Narraway, Akapusi Qera and Gareth Delve remain starters.
Results over the weekend leave Gloucester currently in sixth place in the table but a bonus-point win would lift them to third place based on games won.
Horstmann out
Meanwhile, Willie Walker returns to the Worcester starting line-up to face his current employers Gloucester.
Walker, who has been on loan from his parent club since February, will play at full-back as director of rugby Mike Ruddock makes three changes to the side that defeated Brive in the European Challenge Cup.
Walker's return means New Zealand speedster Rico Gear moves back to the wing with Miles Benjamin named among the replacements.
Lock Will Bowley misses the game with a foot injury and so home-grown talent Graham Kitchener, who recently agreed a two-year contract extension, partners Greg Rawlinson in the second row.
Back row Kai Horstmann is also ruled out of action with a broken rib and so his place at number eight goes to Fiji international Netani Talei.
David Lyons and James Collins are both promoted to the replacements bench as the Warriors look to complete the double over Gloucester.
Gloucester: 15 Charlie Sharples, 14 Matthew Watkins, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Mark Foster, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Gareth Delve (capt), 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Luke Narraway, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Adam Eustace, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Apo Satala, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Ryan Lamb, 22 Olly Morgan.
Worcester: 15 Willie Walker, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Dale Rasmussen, 11 Rico Gear, 10 Matthew Jones, 9 Ryan Powell, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Darren Morris, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Ruwers, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 David Lyons, 19 James Collins, 20 Jonny Arr, 21 Loki Crichton, 22 Miles Benjamin.