WESTCOUNTRY DERBY Gloucester vs Bristol starting XVs

Details

Created on Thursday, 11 February 2021 14:57

Last Updated on Friday, 12 February 2021 15:56

Published on Thursday, 11 February 2021 14:57

Written by TOM TAINTON & TIM ROGERS

Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro will make his first Premiership start for pacesetters Bristol Bears in their top versus bottom clash at Gloucester tonight (1945ko).

The Argentinian international prop is one of three changes to Pat Lam’s side for the West Country derby at Kingsholm.

Luke Morahan returns to the back three in the only change to the backline, while Jake Heenan starts in the back row in place of the unavailable Steven Luatua.

Homegrown Bears scrum half Andy Uren is set to make his 100th competitive appearance, having graduated through the Bristol Academy, while Fitz Harding is listed among the replacements for the round nine encounter.

Ben Morgan makes a welcome return from injury and is named on the bench alongside Santiago Socino, who is poised to make his Gloucester debut.

The Cherry & Whites backline is unchanged from the 32-26 defeat at London Irish with Willi Heinz starting at scrum half and Billy Twelvetrees at 10. Mark Atkinson and Henry Trinder link up in the midfield with Ollie Thorley, Jason Woodward and Santiago Carreras in the back three.

There are five changes in the forwards. Val Rapava-Ruskin, Henry Walker and Fraser Balmain start in the front row, Matt Garvey and Matias Alemanno behind them at lock.

In the back row, Jamie Gibson starts at blindside flanker with Freddie Clarke at No.8 and Lewis Ludlow, who continues the captaincy, at 7.  

Gloucester have named a strong bench with Giorgi Kveseladze looking to follow up his impressive debut.

Gloucester Rugby starting 15 Jason Woodward 14 Santiago Carreras 13 Henry Trinder 12 Mark Atkinson 11 Ollie Thorley 10 Billy Twelvetrees 9 Willi Heinz 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin 2 Henry Walker 3 Fraser Balmain 4 Matt Garvey 5 Matias Alemanno 6 Jamie Gibson 7 Lewis Ludlow (c) 8 Freddie Clarke

Replacements 16. Santiago Socino 17. Alex Seville 18. Jamal Ford-Robinson 19. Alex Craig 20. Ben Morgan 21. Charlie Chapman 22. Giorgi Kveseladze 23. Kyle Moyle

Bristol Bears starting 15 Charles Piutau 14 Luke Morahan 13 Piers O’Conor 12 Siale Piutau 11 Henry Purdy 10 Ioan Lloyd 9 Andy Uren 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 2 Bryan Byrne 3 John Afoa (c) 4 Dave Attwood 5 Chris Vui 6 Jake Heenan 7 Dan Thomas 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements 16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Fitz Harding, 21. Tom Kessell, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Alapati Leiua

Unavailable: Harry Thacker, Yann Thomas, Kyle Sinckler, Max Lahiff, Joe Joyce, Ben Earl, James Dun, Steven Luatua, Harry Randall, Chris Cook, Callum Sheedy, Max Malins, Semi Radradra.

• < Prev
• Next >