Bryan Redpath
Gloucester Rugby make three changes to the side that started against Sale Sharks last weekend for the Aviva Premiership play off semi final against Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
Freddie Burns returns at full back while Tim Molenaar is back in midfield to partner Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.
The one change to the pack sees Jim Hamilton come into the second row to link up with Alex Brown.
It’s a much changed line up from the one that featured at Vicarage Road only three weeks ago with just seven players retaining their places in the starting fifteen.
The Men in Black are hot favourites with the bookies and won their eleventh successive game at Harlequins last weekend and Head Coach Bryan Redpath is under no illusions about the challenge in hand.
“Sunday is huge for us. We’re aware of that and we’ve achieved some good things this season. But we want to improve upon the performance down there of three weeks ago.”
“We were disappointing that day. Credit to Saracens, they’re very efficient and a very workmanlike side. They get some stick but they work hard for each other so we have to fight in every aspect of the game.”
Meanwhile, scrum half Rory Lawson stressed that there’s all to play for.
“It’s knock out rugby and the side that performs better on the day will come away with the spoils.”
“Maybe we focussed too much on them the last time we played them but we’re in control of the way we play. We respect them fully and understand what they do in attack and defence but, ultimately, we need to focus on ourselves.”
“We’ve done well this season and proved a certain amount to ourselves and to others. But we’re not done yet. We’re aware that if we go down there and put in a performance then we won’t be too far off.”
Gloucester Rugby:
Freddie Burns; Charlie Sharples, Tim Molenaar, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, James Simpson-Daniel; Nicky Robinson, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Scott Lawson, Paul Doran-Jones; Jim Hamilton, Alex Brown; Alasdair Strokosch, Akapusi Qera, Luke Narraway (capt)
Replacements:
Darren Dawidiuk, Alasdair Dickinson, Rupert Harden, Dave Attwood, Brett Deacon, Dave Lewis, Henry Trinder, Tom Voyce