Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Perpignan are a big, physical team – Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has warned his Gloucester Rugby players of the physicality he expects Perpignan to bring to Kingsholm.
The Cherry & Whites tackle the side from the south of France in the European Challenge Cup this evening.
“They will provide a tough test,” said head coach Skivington. “They might not have had results go their way, but they are a very big, physical team with some dangerous threats in terms of runners out wide.
“We’ve watched them inside out and we’ll have to be on our toes. There are slightly different questions in Europe compared to playing in the Premiership because you don’t know people as well as you do when you face them each season.
“I look forward to the challenges that they will present and seeing how the boys deal with it.”
Skivington makes eight changes to the starting XV that beat Saracens last time out.
Kyle Moyle returns at full-back with Ollie Thorley and Louis ReesZammit on the wings.
Mark Atkinson links up with Chris Harris in an all-international centre combination, while Stephen Varney starts at scrum-half alongside Adam Hastings at ten.
In the front row, Jamal FordRobinson is named at loosehead with Santiago Socino at hooker and
Fraser Balmain at tighthead. Freddie Clarke is at lock with Ed Slater, who makes his first start since round two of the Premiership.
Jordy Reid is at blindside flanker, Jack Clement at number eight and captain Lewis Ludlow at openside.
Jack Singleton, Harry Elrington, Charlie Chapman and Lloyd Evans are among the options on the bench for the Cherry & Whites.