Willi Heinz will make his 100th Gloucester Rugby appearance this Friday night as the Cherry and Whites host London Irish at Kingsholm.
George Skivington has named a relatively consistent side for the fixture and has picked a team that will be looking to give the returning supporters something to cheer under the lights.
Recently announced British and Irish Lion, Chris Harris, returns to Gloucester Rugby’s line up along with fellow Scotland international Alex Craig. Ben Morgan’s inclusion at No.8 is the only other change to the starting side that took to the field last time out.
Heinz and Billy Twelvetrees resume their partnership at half back with Mark Atkinson linking up with Harris in the midfield. The back three is made up of Santiago Carreras, Louis Rees-Zammit and Kyle Moyle.
In the forwards, Val Rapava-Ruskin, Jack Singleton and Fraser Balmain start in the front row with Ed Slater partnering Craig at lock. Lewis Ludlow resumes the captaincy at openside flanker alongside Ruan Ackermann who shifts to the blindside as Morgan starts at No.8.
Head Coach George Skivington is looking forward to the fixture.
“I think we’ve been building quite nicely and with three games of the season left, the challenge is to see how well we can play and how consistent we can be. A lot of the hard work has been put in over the last 10 months and there have been some big shifts in certain areas and I think we are seeing it start to come together.
“Within the group now there’s a real trust about what we’re trying to do and there’s a real understanding about what we’re trying to do and I think that’s why in the last few games it’s come through a little bit.
“The challenge for us is to see what we can deliver in the last three games and hopefully end the season with some real confidence and get a good preseason in after a break.”
Gloucester Rugby
15. Kyle Moyle
14. Louis Rees-Zammit *
13. Chris Harris
12. Mark Atkinson
11. Santiago Carreras
10. Billy Twelvetrees
9. Willi Heinz
1. Val Rapava-Ruskin
2. Jack Singleton
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Ed Slater
5. Alex Craig *
6. Ruan Ackermann
7. Lewis Ludlow (c) *
8. Ben Morgan
16. Santiago Socino
17. Jamal Ford-Robinson
18. Jack Stanley
19. Freddie Clarke *
20. Jack Clement *
21. Stephen Varney *
22. Lloyd Evans *
23. Ollie Thorley *
*Denotes Academy player or graduate from the Gloucester Rugby Academy
Click here to see the players who are unavailable for this fixture.
