Gloucester change three for trip to London Welsh

Posted on Sep 28, 2012 in Gloucester

For the trip to London Welsh on Sunday, Director of Rugby Nigel Davies keeps faith with the majority of the Gloucester starting line up that defeated London Wasps last weekend in the Aviva Premiership, but does introduce three new faces.

The only change to the back line sees Mike Tindall swap places in the matchday 23 with Henry Trinder to partner Billy Twelvetrees in midfield.

In the forwards, Huia Edmonds comes in for Darren Dawidiuk who picked up a knee injury against Wasps while England international number eight Ben Morgan is ruled out with a dead calf.

Finally, Peter Buxton, who has been in fine form in the Aviva Premiership A League, is named at blindside flanker with Sione Kalamafoni moving across to number eight.

It will be Gloucester Rugby’s first meeting with London Welsh in the Premiership at the unfamiliar surroundings of the Kassam Stadium.

Lyn Jones’ side have won their last two games having experienced a difficult first two games in the top flight and Davies admitted this week that this recent upsurge in form simply reiterates how tough this weekend’s game will be.

“It’s very important that we’ve got the right mind-set going into Sunday to play London Welsh.

“It’s going to be a physical encounter. I think that the two sides that they’ve beaten probably didn’t give them enough respect and, because of that, they finished on the wrong end of the result.

“They’re a very strong team, a proud side. They’ve got a lot of points to prove, individually and collectively, and, if you get it wrong against them, they will beat you.”

Gloucester Rugby:

Rob Cook; Jonny May, Mike Tindall, Billy Twelvetrees, James Simpson-Daniel; Freddie Burns, Dan Robson; Nick Wood, Huia Edmonds, Rupert Harden; Tom Savage, Jim Hamilton (capt); Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements:

Koree Britton, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, Will James, Akapusi Qera, Dave Lewis, Henry Trinder, Martyn Thomas

Gloucester Rugby name side for local derby at Worcester

Posted on Sep 14, 2012 in Gloucester

Director of Rugby Nigel Davies rotates his squad as Gloucester Rugby look to make it two wins in a row on the road in the Aviva Premiership as his side make the short trip up the M5 to Worcester on Saturday.

The majority of the matchday squad is that which triumphed at London Irish last weekend.

One change, however, sees Shane Monahan replace Charlie Sharples on the right wing, the England man ruled out with a shoulder injury.

It’s Monahan’s first start in the Aviva Premiership, although he featured as a replacement at the Madejski Stadium and has been in fine try scoring form in the A League.

In addition, Billy Twelvetrees will get his first start of the season at fly half in place of the Premiership’s joint top scorer, Freddie Burns, who is named amongst the replacements.

Burns has shaken off an ankle knock he picked up at the Madejski Stadium last weekend. However, the team have prepared for Worcester this week with Twelvetrees in the ten shirt, so the former Leicester man will start with Burns available to call upon as and when required.

Mike Tindall comes in for Twelvetrees at inside centre, partnering Henry Trinder in the midfield.

Meanwhile, the only changes in the pack see Huia Edmonds and Rupert Harden come in at hooker and tight head respectively, the Australian international making his first Premiership start for the club.

The Warriors may have started the season with two defeats but Davies knows that his side will have a fight on their hands at Sixways:

“We’re still a team that is evolving. We’ve got a lot work to do and we know that it’s going to be a real dog fight. What I can assure everybody is that we’ll hang in there and be in that fight.

“There are elements of the game that we have to focus on and we know that, if we get those right, then we’ll be in control of the game. If we don’t, they will.

“We know exactly where we are, we know exactly what we have to do and we know how tough a game this is going to be.

“Worcester is so close to Gloucester that it’s a huge game. I’m all too aware of what local derbies mean particularly to our supporters.

“But, from our point of view, we just want to get some momentum going as a team. We feel we’ve kick started our season a little bit and want to continue that momentum.”

Gloucester Rugby:

Jonny May; Shane Monahan, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel; Billy Twelvetrees, Dan Robson; Nick Wood, Huia Edmonds, Rupert Harden; Will James, Jim Hamilton (capt); Tom Savage, Andy Hazell, Ben Morgan

Replacements:

Darren Dawidiuk, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, Sione Kalamafoni, Akapusi Qera, Dave Lewis, Freddie Burns, Rob Cook

RUGBY NEWS: Gloucester Rugby name side for visit of Northampton

Posted on Aug 31, 2012 in Gloucester

Director of Rugby Nigel Davies has named his first Gloucester Rugby line up of the Aviva Premiership season with Northampton Saints the visitors to Kingsholm on Saturday (kick off 3pm).

Following a preseason campaign which saw Gloucester secure two victories from three outings, it’s down to the serious matter of Aviva Premiership Rugby and the visit of the Saints.

Davies is deprived of the services of his skipper Jim Hamilton who rolled an ankle in training this week so fellow lock Alex Brown captains the side.

He leads a side that sees first Premiership starts for Gloucester the likes of Billy Twelvetrees, Dan Robson and Ben Morgan. Summer signings Huia Edmonds, Sione Kalamafoni and Martyn Thomas are named amongst the replacements.

Davies knows that Northampton will be a tough first opponent but that he’s happy with how his side are progressing.

“We’re as ready as we can be. We’ve had a good three months at it after lots of change over the summer – systems, structure, personnel.

“The preseason games were very important as we targeted certain things to achieve in them. We’ve learned a lot of lessons from them and gradually got better.

“They’re a very good side. I went to watch them in Edinburgh last week and they played very well. We’re a side who have been together for three months, they’re a side that’s been together for three years.

“They’ve had a lot of stability and have evolved their game. They’ll provide the sternest of challenges but that’s good. We know they’re coming and we’ve prepared for that.”  

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