Azam and Collazo back for Tigers trip : News

GLOUCESTER'S head coach Dean Ryan will hand starts to loose-head prop Patrice Collazo and hooker Olivier Azam to complete an all-French front row against Leicester tomorrow.

The pair will make their first starts of the season at Welford Road in place of Nick Wood and Mefin Davies respectively and will be joined by tight-head prop Christian Califano as Gloucester aim to continue their 100% start to the season.

Will James, the former Cornish Pirates second row, will start in the second row alongside Marco Bortolami in place of the injured Alex Brown, who broke an arm in the 31-21 victory over Harlequins last weekend.

James's inclusion is the only other change to the Gloucester starting line-up, which means no places for Mike Tindall (calf) or Iain Balshaw (ankle).

However, Ryan has made changes to the bench. Ludovic Mercier is not considered for selection after damaging a knee in the Guinness A League encounter against Bath on Monday, which means Brad Davies is recalled from his loan at Pertemps Bees.

Both Adam Eustace and Jake Boer come into the squad for the first time this season as Gloucester opt for five forwards and two backs on the bench. Boer returns after recovering from ligament damage to his knee and replaces Luke Narraway.

Explaining his decision on Azam and Collazo, Ryan told www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk "We see this weekend as an opportunity for other people to put forward their cases in the side. We have only just started a very long season and we need to give our established players the chance to press their claims."

The backline remains unchanged for the second match running which means Peter Richards, a try scorer last weekend, partners Willie Walker at half-back. Rudi Keil and Anthony Allen are in the centre, while James Bailey, Mark Foster and Olly Morgan complete the back three.

Leicester lost against Bath last weekend but Ryan is anticipating a tough afternoon tomorrow.

"Welford Road is a tough place to go and we know we will be facing a side reacting very strongly to a disappointment last weekend," Ryan said.

"From our point of view, I think Harlequins told us we have a lot to work on as a team. We scored two very good tries through individuals but we have to be much better than that in more areas.

"We have a group of individuals who deal with pressure and expectation each week and I am sure we will be facing that tomorrow. We know we have to match them physically in certain areas but we are looking forward to what should be a fantastic game."

GLOUCESTER (v Leicester, tomorrow, Welford Road, 3pm): Olly Morgan; James Bailey, Rudi Keil, Anthony Allen, Mark Foster; Willie Walker, Peter Richards; Patrice Collazo, Olivier Azam, Christian Califano, Will James, Marco Bortolami (capt), Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, James Forrester. Reps: Mefin Davies, Jack Forster, Nick Wood, Adam Eustace, Jake Boer, Brad Davies, Rory Lawson.

A try scorer in the 33-12 semi-final win over Newcastle, Billy Burns admitted that Gloucester hadn't started well, but that the last hour was much improved. A final in Bilbao now beckons but Burns insists the immediate focus is on Bath next week.

Man of the Match Jason Woodward admitted when talking to GRTV after the win over Newcastle, that Gloucester had shown the best of what they could do but also the worst before easing to victory and a place in the final.