Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Skivington eyes victory after pushing rivals close
SANTIAGO Carreras, Henry Trinder, Jack Singleton and Matias Alemanno all return to the Gloucester Rugby starting lineup for this afternoon’s clash of the Gallagher Premiership’s bottom two sides at Kingsholm.
Basement side Gloucester are four points behind Worcester having won just one league match all season, but they have lost their last two games by a combined total of just three points against big West Country rivals Bath and Bristol.
With relegation off the table this season, Cherry & Whites boss George Skivington says the focus is on making improvements each week.
He said: “It’s about growing a little more from last week. That’s always the plan, to get better every week.
“The boys came in from the Bath game disappointed not to win, so we have to look at what we could have done better, what we could have controlled, and we now go on to Worcester, who we fully respect, and we’ll try to be better than we were last week.”
Gloucester’s front row is made up by Alex Seville, hooker Singleton and Fraser Balmain, with Ed Slater and Alemanno behind them at lock.
Jordy Reid, Ruan Ackermann and Lewis Ludlow, who retains the captaincy, make up the back row.
In the backs, Worcester-bound Willi Heinz starts at scrum-half and will link up with Billy Twelvetrees, who keeps the ten shirt.
Tom Seabrook returns at inside centre and is joined by fellow Gloucester Academy graduate Henry Trinder in the midfield. Kyle Moyle starts at full-back with Ollie Thorley and Carreras on the wings.
Gloucester have named a strong bench with Santiago Socino, Jamal Ford-Robinson and Jack Stanley named as front row replacements with Alex Craig and Jack Clement, also in reserve. Stanley and Clement will make their first appearances of the year should they come on.
Charlie Chapman, George Barton and Giorgi Kveseladze complete the matchday 23.
Although they are winless in the Premiership since beating Wasps 40-24 in week two, the Cherry & Whites have been unlucky in recent weeks, with their last six top-flight defeats coming by margins of three, 12, five, six, one and two points.
Defeat today, however, could leave Gloucester adrift at the bottom.
Gloucester Rugby: K Moyle; S Carreras, H Trinder, T Seabrook, O Thorley; B Twelvetrees, W Heinz; A Seville, J Singleton, F Balmain, E Slater, M Alemanno, J Reid, L Ludlow (capt), R Ackermann. Replacements: S Socino, J Ford-Robinson, J Stanley, A Craig, J Clement, C Chapman, G Barton, G Kveseladze.
■ Worcester hand a debut to the former England wing Chris Ashton for their trip to Gloucester.
Warriors head coach Jonathan Thomas said: “We have not won at Kingsholm since 2009, but the beauty of history is that you can either be scarred by it or you can walk straight into it.
“We missed an opportunity against Exeter at home a few weeks ago to make a statement.
“What a great statement it would be to be the first Warriors side to win at Kingsholm since 2009.”
Wasps entertain London Irish after slipping down the standings on the back of three defeats in four games, while in-form Harlequins head to north to face Newcastle seeking a fifth successive win.
The Falcons’ last two Premiership games were shelved because of positive Covid-19 tests in the camp at Kingston Park.