Worcester v Gloucester: Teams
Joe Carlisle will start for Worcester as they bring down the curtain on their Guinness Premiership campaign against Gloucester.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 07/05/10 1:24pm
Joe Carlisle will start for Worcester Warriors as they bring down the curtain on their Guinness Premiership campaign with a derby match against Gloucester.
Fly-half Carlisle is one of six changes made by Warriors coach Andrew Stanley to the side that lost to Leeds a fortnight ago - a result that confirmed their relegation from the top flight.
"Joe has played well in the recent series of games that he has been selected for and needs to demonstrate he can do it at the next level up," said Stanley.
"He will start the game, rather than coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go, and that way gain more experience and have the chance to show his undoubted ability."
Pat Sanderson and Sam Tuitupou are both ruled out of the Sixways stadium clash due to injury, while lock Greg Rawlinson is also sidelined after a knee injury restricted him in training.
Rawlinson, who is replaced by Craig Gillies, will now undergo surgery in the hope of being fit for pre-season training.
Australian full-back Chris Latham will captain the Warriors in his final game for the West Country club after a two-year stint at Sixways.
James Collins joins the back row alongside fit-again Tom Wood and Kai Horstmann, while Dale Rasmussen links up with Scotland international Alex Grove in midfield.
Injury
Olivier Sourgens is handed a starting spot on his final appearance for the club in place of prop Tevita Tamoepeau, who is ruled out following injury and illness during the week.
Prop Jack Gilding, lock Will Bowley, back row Matt Cox and utility back Calum McRae have all been called up as replacements.
Meanwhile, Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath has named a strong side for the last league fixture of the season, with Luke Narraway included for the first time since injuring a knee at Leicester in February.
The England international replaces Adam Eustace at number eight in the only change to the starting XV that defeated London Irish at Kingsholm a fortnight ago.
Redpath insists that regardless of Worcester's relegation, the Cherry and Whites will not be complacent when they visit their near neighbours on Saturday.
"We don't know what Worcester will be like. We've got to go on the fact that they've been very competitive and have been a very proud side," said Redpath.
"Their mindset will be that 'we're down but we're going to go away with some pride and send away the people that have supported us all season with a win on a local derby against Gloucester'."
"I don't think that there'll be any quarter given at the weekend. We just need to make sure that our game is right and be hard on ourselves. We always have to assume that the challenge will be hard and they're going to be fighting."
Worcester: 15 Chris Latham (capt), 14 Chris Pennell, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Dale Rasmussen, 11 Marcel Garvey, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 James Collins, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Graham Kitchener, 3 Olivier Sourgens, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Callum Black, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Will Bowley, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Louis Silver, 22 Willie Walker, 23 Calum MacRae.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Mike Tindall (capt), 12 Tim Molenaar, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Greg Somerville, 19 Will James, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Jordi Pasqualin, 22 Tim Taylor, 23 Charlie Sharples.