London Irish v Gloucester: Teams
London Irish squad's for Sunday's Guinness Premiership match with Gloucester contains 16 full internationals.
Last Updated: 13/09/09 11:05am
London Irish squad's for Sunday's Guinness Premiership match with Gloucester contains 16 full internationals.
Among them is Ireland international and club captain, Bob Casey, who returns following arm surgery earlier in the summer.
Casey swaps places with Andy Perry in the only change to the squad that represented the club at Twickenham last Saturday.
"While it was encouraging to see us create chances against Saracens last week, we failed to take them," Exiles Head Coach Toby Booth said of their season-opening 18-14 loss.
"We've worked hard on our finishing in training this week and I expect us to be more clinical on Sunday.
"Gloucester has a good, skillful squad that has been strengthened by some astute signings," he added.
Gloucester are bolstered by the return of England full-back Olly Morgan whilst centre Tim Molenaar will make his full debut on Sunday.
Morgan has been sidelined with a dead leg since Gloucester's pre-season training camp in Scotland.
He is now fit to return and Tom Voyce moves from full-back to the wing to accommodate him, with James Simpson-Daniel dropping to the bench.
Molenaar, meanwhile, will make his full debut in the centre in place of Mike Tindall.
Number eight Gareth Delve will skipper the side which features just one change in the pack with Alasdair Dickinson and Nick Wood swapping roles - Dickinson starting and Wood amongst the replacements.
Head coach Bryan Redpath said he was happy with their 24-5 win against Bath last weekend but wants improvement in certain areas.
"The performance in the contact areas and in defence showed how much it meant to the players. We probably missed two or three opportunities and it could have been a more polished performance," he said.
"However, on the whole last weekend, I was delighted with the outcome. We won the game and didn't pick up any serious injuries. I couldn't have asked any more from the players in the 80 minutes."
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagickibau, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Bob Casey (captain), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Danie Coetzee, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 Dan Murphy, 17 James Buckland, 18 Faan Rautenbach, 19 Andy Perry, 20 George Stowers, 21 Peter Hewat, 22 Peter Richards, 23 Alfredo Lalanne.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Eliota-Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Gareth Delve (capt), 7 Andrew Hazell, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawiduik, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Akapusi Qera, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 James Simpson-Daniel.