Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Dreyer in line for his Gloucester bow at last
RUAN Dreyer is set to make his Gloucester Rugby debut in today’s Gallagher Premiership clash against Sale at Kingsholm.
The South Africa international prop is available for the first time since joining the club from the Lions in the summer and has been named on the replacements’ bench.
“It’s been a frustrating time for him since he arrived,” Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann said.
“He came from the Super Rugby final with an injury, he got that fixed and unfortunately in one of the training sessions he picked up another little niggle and it was a bit of a process, but I say sometimes things work out for the best.
“It’s a crucial time to get him back in and hopefully he will enjoy (the game) at Kingsholm.
“You can’t ask for a better start with a packed Kingsholm in front of passionate supporters. Hopefully it will be a memorable start for him.”
Tight-head Dreyer has won four caps for South Africa and helped the Lions, where he previously played under Ackermann, reach three successive Super Rugby finals. He injured his knee before arriving at Gloucester and was set to return in October before suffering a calf issue.
Gloucester have been dealt a double blow, though, with in-form winger Ollie Thorley and full-back Jason Woodward ruled out. Both failed head injury assessments following a six-day turnaround from the win over Newcastle, with Woodward going off in that game.
Ackermann said: “We lost Jason Woodward and Ollie Thorley for this weekend, so again it’s going to test our depth, but we’ve got Matt Banahan back in the side and Tom Hudson will have an opportunity again.
“From week one, I challenge the players, I said to them ‘Listen, sometimes you might feel like you’re not getting an opportunity, but it’s a long season and we need everybody ready to go when we push on your number’ and a number of players have had to do that.”
Matt Banahan has returned from a calf injury, though, and takes Thorley’s place on the wing, with Tom Hudson moving back to full-back as Henry Trinder comes in at centre.
Captain Willi Heinz, prop Fraser Balmain and flanker Jaco Kriel also return to the Gloucester side following the win over Newcastle.
Sale are the only team that Gloucester are yet to face in the Premiership as the season reaches the halfway point.
“It’s good to be back at home in front of our own supporters and we’re looking forward to a big challenge,” said Ackermann.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for Sale, they’re a good side, they’ve played some good rugby and they’ve obviously got a lot of X-Factor players – you think of James O’Connor and (Denny) Solomona and Faf de Klerk and all those guys.
“It’s the last game of 2018 – hopefully we can make it a good one.”
Elsewhere in the Premiership today, Saracens host Worcester, and Harlequins entertain Wasps.