Guinness Premiership : Vainikolo returns for derby showdown

Lesley Vainikolo returns for Gloucester

Vainikolo returns for derby showdown

9 May 2008, 12:10 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Gloucester will make two changes - including one positional - for their Guinness Premiership showdown against Bath on Saturday.

Lesley Vainikolo and Gareth Delve will both return in the only changes to Dean Ryan's starting line-up from the side that beat Wasps last Sunday.

Vainikolo returns from a hamstring strain picked up against Saracens which means Iain Balshaw moves to full-back because Olly Morgan is ruled out with a dead leg. Delve will start at number eight against his former club with Luke Narraway moving to the bench.

The rest of the line-up remains intact from the one that scored three tries at Adams Park that means a single point tomorrow will guarantee Gloucester a home tie in the play-offs semi-finals.

"These games are one-offs," said head coach Dean Ryan. "I think it will be pretty special between two clubs who are capable of playing some rugby and that is a great testament to the Guinness Premiership as a whole.

"The biggest pressure comes from within the group because we want to successful. Our victory over Wasps does not mean we have solved everything but it was significant in our development and we must try and back that up.

"We made a statement against Wasps, but it's not like we have crossed that hurdle and won't make a mistake again.
"We want to finish top because that would mean a huge amount to us over a nine month season and then we can move into the play-offs. This is a huge game for us and we will be ready for what should be a fantastic occasion.
"If both teams turn up and play then it could be a great game," he said.

Gloucester's forward pack will be made up of props Nick Wood and Carlos Nieto and hooker Andy Titterrell.

Marco Bortolami will skipper the side from the second row alongside Alex Brown, while Akapusi Qera, Alasdair Strokosch and Delve will be the back row.

Rory Lawson and Ryan Lamb will line-up at half-back; Anthony Allen and Mike Tindall - a try scorer against Wasps - will be the centres.

Vainikolo, who has nine Guinness Premiership tries to his name so far this season, James Simpson-Daniel, who has eight and Balshaw will be the back three. No Gloucester player has ever reached double figures for tries in the regular Premiership season. Balshaw's last start at full-back was against Harlequins in March.

The bench is made up of a four-three forward split which means an extra back is included from last weekend's game.
Olivier Azam and Alasdair Dickinson will cover the front row, with Will James and Narraway the back other options. Scrum-half Gareth Cooper, utility back Willie Walker and winger Mark Foster are Ryan's three-quarter options.

Gloucester (v Bath, tomorrow, 3pm): Iain Balshaw, Lesley Vainikolo, Mike Tindall, Anthony Allen, James Simpson-Daniel; Ryan Lamb, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Andy Titterrell, Carlos Nieto, Marco Bortolami (capt), Alex Brown, Alasdair Strokosch, Akapusi Qera, Gareth Delve. Reps: Olivier Azam, Alasdair Dickinson, Will James, Luke Narraway, Gareth Cooper, Willie Walker, Mark Foster.