Gloucester Rugby travel to the Stoop on Saturday to take on Harlequins in round three of the Premiership Rugby Cup. There are six changes to the starting line-up and five players will be making their first starts of the season. Ed Slater will skipper the side.

With the start of the Gallagher Premiership just a couple of weeks away, the Cherry and Whites continue to try new combinations and give game time to as many of the squad as possible.

New to the starting line-up from the side that started against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate last Friday evening are Franco Marais, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Ed Slater, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees and Tom Hudson. Of those six, only Ford-Robinson has started a game so far this season.

Quins are top of pool 2 with two wins from their opening two matches and Backs Coach Tim Taylor knows that they will be a tough proposition on their own turf.

“The boys are working hard during the week and we’re pushing them quite hard. We’re still on an upward curve trying to get better and better as the start of the Premiership season gets closer.

“I’m sure Harlequins will put an experienced side out. They’ve had a good start to the Premiership Rugby Cup, we’ve looked at their last two games and they play an exciting, attacking brand of rugby.

“Paul Gustard also runs a tight ship defensively. They’re a good team and it’s going to be a good test going down to the Stoop. We’re looking forward to it.”

Gloucester Rugby:

Tom Hudson; 14. Tom Marshall, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Tom Seabrook; 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Joe Simpson; 1. Val Rapava Ruskin, 2. Franco Marais, 3. Jamal Ford-Robinson; 4. Ed Slater (capt), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler; 6. Lewis Ludlow, 7. Aaron Hinkley, 8. Ruan Ackermann

Replacements:

Todd Gleave, 17. Alex Seville, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Simon Linsell, 20. Josh Gray, 21. Charlie Chapman, 22. Mark Atkinson, 23. Tom Stanton

Gloucester Rugby make six changes to starting line-up to take on Harlequins

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