Gloucester v Worcester: Teams
Gloucester Rugby head coach Bryan Redpath has made five changes to the starting XV to face Worcester Warriors.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 02/01/10 2:08pm
Gloucester Rugby head coach Bryan Redpath has made five changes to the starting XV to face Worcester Warriors in their Guinness Premiership clash at Kingsholm.
The Cherry and Whites will host the Warriors in another West Country derby after falling to defeat to local rivals Bath last Sunday.
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and Lesley Vainkolo return to action, while Dave Lewis replaces Rory Lawson after the scrum-half was put out of action early at the Rec following a blow to the head.
Adam Eustace will partner Alex Brown in the second row and Akapusi Qera returns for his first appearance since Gloucester's home triumph over Newcastle on December 5.
Welsh international scrum-half Andy Williams will be on the bench alongside hooker Olivier Azam, who has not featured since his try-scoring contribution against Leeds in October.
Crucial
Redpath insists the clash will be crucial in terms of determining the outcome of Gloucester's Guinness Premiership campaign.
"Worcester have beaten us I think on the last three occasions, twice away and once at home," Redpath told the club's official website.
"Everyone must understand the importance of this game. A win would take us up two places and a defeat would move us down one place. We're only seven points off the bottom and four points off sixth.
"So, these next two games are massive. Our supporters will come on Saturday and sing their hearts out and they'll want people to perform. But we have to be clinical.
"I think over 90 points of their 140 odd have come from the boot of Willie Walker so what is going to be important is discipline. If our discipline is poor then it won't be a game because Willie will kick the points."
Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock has made two changes to the line-up to make the short journey to Kingsholm.
Hooker Chris Fortey has been given a start along with Dale Rasmussen, who is paired with Sam Tuitupou in the centre, while Scotland international Alex Grove moves to the bench.
Fly-half Willie Walker will face his former club for the first time since departing Kingsholm for Sixways in the summer, while prop Tevita Taumoepeau makes his 100th start for the Warriors in the front row.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Dave Lewis, 1 Nick Wood, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Greg Somerville, 4 Adam Eustace, 5 Alex Brown, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Gareth Delve (capt).
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Andy Williams, 22 Carlos Spencer, 23 Tim Molenaar.
Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Jonny Arr, 1 Adam Black, 2 Chris Fortey, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 5 Craig Gillies, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 8 Kai Horstmann.
Replacements: 16 Matt Mullan, 17 Aleki Lutui, 18 Olivier Sourgens, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 James Collins, 21 Ryan Powell, 22 Matthew Jones, 23 Alex Grove.