Premiership | Gloucester vs London Irish line ups and preview

Round 18 concludes on Sunday evening with Gloucester hosting London Irish at Kingsholm. There was not much in it the last time the two teams met, in Round 11, with Exiles taking the honours 24-20 at the Madejski Stadium.

Exiles were dominant in the first stanza with talented winger Ollie Hassel-Collins crossing the try-line twice. The men in green began the second half as they’d completed the first, with Hassel-Collins going over for a hat-trick, but, with the score at 17-3, Gloucester began to mount a comeback,  scoring two well-worked tries to bring them within just two points of Exiles and the possibility of victory.

Exiles, however, were not finished, and, in an extraordinary individual accomplishment, Hassel-Collins cantered in for his fourth try of the day, securing his team’s victory.

One the basis of the previous round, a betting man may well be rooting for Gloucester in this one as the latter enjoyed a good win over Leicester while Exiles took a pounding against Saracens.

The Cherry & Whites’ defence has been rather suspect of late, however, as they have conceded a number of rather large scores against their name – an area Exiles may well be able to exploit, especially with the attacking prowess of players like Hassell-Collins.

Team News

Gloucester

George Skivington, has named his Gloucester Rugby side to take on London Irish at Kingsholm tomorrow afternoon. Skivington has made 5 changes to his starting XV from the side that defeated Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm last weekend.

Amongst the backs, Lloyd Evans starts at fly-half, partnered by Stephen Varney in the half backs. Mark Atkinson comes in at inside centre for his first appearance since captaining the Cherry & Whites at Allianz Park in Round 16.

In the pack, Val Rapava-Ruskin and Fraser Balmain is joined in the front-row by Franco Marais. Ed Slater and Matt Garvey continue in the engine room, with Academy youngster, Jack Clement, starting at 6 following a number of impressive performances.

London Irish

 Agustin Creevy starts after scoring on his debut last week and is joined in the front row by Harry Elrington and Sekope Kepu. George Nott and Sebastian de Chaves combine in the second row.

Matt Rogerson starts at blindside flanker, with Blair Cowan captaining the side from openside flanker. Albert Tuisue concludes the pack in the number 8 jersey.

Nick Phipps and Paddy Jackson are the halfback duo, as Terrence Hepetema and Matt Williams are set to link up in the centres.

Once again, the Irish back three is made up of the club’s Academy graduates. Ben Loader and Ollie Hassell-Collins start on either wing and Tom Homer is given the 15 shirt.

Line Ups

Gloucester

15. Jason Woodward
14. Ollie Thorley
13. Chris Harris
12. Mark Atkinson
11. Jonny May
10. Lloyd Evans
9. Stephen Varney

1. Val Rapava-Ruskin
2. Franco Marais
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Ed Slater
5. Matt Garvey
6. Jack Clement
7. Lewis Ludlow ©
8. Jake Polledri

REPLACEMENTS

16. Jack Singleton
17. Corne Fourie
18. Jack Stanley
19. Ruan Ackermann
20. Jordy Reid
21. Joe Simpson
22. Billy Twelvetrees
23. Louis Rees-Zammit

London Irish

15 Tom Homer, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Matt Williams, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Nick Phipps. 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 George Nott, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Matt Rogerson, 7 Blair Cowan ©, 8 Albert Tuisue

Replacements:
16 Matt Cornish, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Jack Cooke, 20 Ben Donnell, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Ross Neal, 23 James Stokes