Key Kingsholm encounter ahead
Gloucester Rugby hooker Darren Dawiduik and Leicester Tigers wing Lote Tuqiri will both make their first Guinness Premiership starts this weekend as the two teams go head-to-head at at Kingsholm on Friday evening.
Dawiduik is one of nine changes to the starting line up from the team that took on London Wasps last weekend in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Also returning are Greg Somerville, Will James and Jake Boer in the pack with James Simpson-Daniel, Tim Molenaar, Lesley Vainikolo, Nicky Robinson and Dave Lewis the new faces in the backline.
Dawiduik, who will be supported by the hugely experienced prop pairing of Greg Somerville and Nick Wood, gets his big opportunity with Scott Lawson called up by Scotland A within the official three week November Test window.
Gloucester are also obliged to release Rory Lawson for the same reason whilst Alasdair Strokosch, Akapusi Qera, Apo Satala and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu are all away on international duty.
However, Gloucester do benefit from Paul Doran-Jones being released from the England squad and he takes his place amongst the replacements whilst new signing Nathan Thomas is also named on the bench.
Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill has made three changes to his starting line-up for the trip to Gloucester.
After last week’s win over Newport Gwent Dragons in the LV= Cup, Aaron Mauger and Johne Murphy return to the backline and Brett Deacon takes the No. 6 shirt for the Kingsholm contest.
Mauger was rested last week and Murphy was involved in the Ireland A squad against Tonga, while Deacon returns after a taking a knock in the opening stages of the win over South Africa a fortnight ago.
Ben Kay, Jordan Crane and George Chuter are included in the 23 after their return from England training.
Anthony Allen returns to play at Kingsholm for the first time since leaving Gloucester in the summer and hooker Mefin Davies also lines up against his former club.
“Our performance was a bit up and down against the Dragons last week,” said Cockerill.
“We pride ourselves on being more difficult to play against than that, so we are looking for an improvement.
“Gloucester have good players across the board and we know we will have to execute our own game well and match them physically.
“We’re into a key part of the season with Gloucester, Leeds and Wasps in the Guinness Premiership and then into the back-to-back Heineken Cup games.”
The teams:
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Tim Molenaar, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9Dave Lewis, 8 Gareth Delve (captain) 7 Jake Boer, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Dave Attwood; 4 Will James, 3 Greg Somerville; 2 Darren Dawiduik, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Ben Phillips, 17 Paul Doran-Jones, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Adam Eustace, 20 Nathan Thomas, 21 Jordi Pasqualin, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Tom Voyce
Leicester Tigers: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Lote Tuqiri, 13 Anthony Allen, 12 Aaron Mauger (captain), 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Jeremy Staunton, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Ben Pienaar, 6 Brett Deacon, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Mefin Davies, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Robbie Harris, 18 Jonny Harris, 19 Calum Green, 20 Dan Hemingway, 21 James Grindal, 22 Toby Flood, 23 Matt Smith.
Date:Friday, November 20
Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 19.45 GMT
Referee: Sean Davey
