Gloucester V Saracens Fri 7.45

[fivepointer]

Gloucester: Hudson; Thorley, Twelvetrees, Symons, Trinder; Burns, Heinz (capt); Hohneck, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Slater; Clarke, Ludlow, Ackermann.

Replacements: Hanson, Rapava Ruskin, Denman, Thrush, Polledri, Vellacott, Atkinson, Purdy.

Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Tomkins, Barritt (capt), Wyles; Lozowski, Wigglesworth; Barrington, Brits, Figallo, Skelton, Kruis, Clark, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Tolofua, Thompson-Stringer, Koch, Isiekwe, Conlon, Spencer, Bosch, Earle.

[Banquo]

Trinder on the wing? hmmm. Hope Lozowski seizes the moment.

[Gloskarlos]

That's still a hell of a Sarries team when ravaged by autumn intenationals. 7 first team regulars not available for Glos. Suspect a significant loss could be on the cards.

We are desperate for a full back to return to fitness.....

Unavailable for selection:
Fraser Balmain, Tom Denton, Mariano Galarza, David Halaifonua, Tom Marshall, Motu Matu'u, Ben Morgan, Ross Moriarty, Matt Scott, Charlie Sharples, Owen Williams, Jason Woodward

Senior squad players not listed:

Callum Brayley, Gareth Evans, Lloyd Evans, Paddy McAllister, Cameron Orr, Jacob Rowan

[Mellsblue]

That Sarries bench is ridiculous. As is Gloucesters but only because England’s midfield saviour has the 22 shirt.

[Banquo]

Shame, I'd like to have seen Rowan Atkinson on the bench.

[Mellsblue]

Shame, I'd like to have seen Rowan Atkinson on the bench.

My jokes about Atkinson still wouldn’t be funny. Good job my Flanagan asides are hilarious.

[Gloskarlos]

2013/14 aside there has really only been one score between Glaws and Sarries. If we can keep it that close on Friday I will be relatively chuffed!!

2009/10 - Gloucester Rugby 29 - 28 Saracens
2010/11 - Gloucester Rugby 19 - 13 Saracens
2011/12 - Gloucester Rugby 17 - 19 Saracens
2012/13 - Gloucester Rugby 28 - 23 Saracens
2013/14 - Gloucester Rugby 8 - 29 Saracens
2014/15 - Gloucester Rugby 24 - 23 Saracens
2015/16 - Gloucester Rugby 15 - 17 Saracens
2016/17 - Gloucester Rugby 31 - 23 Saracens

[Mellsblue]

I believe Karl Dickson is in charge of this one. First Prem match in the middle, I think.

[fivepointer]

Yep, Dicksons first Prem game. Thats quite a swift progression. He handled last weeks Scarlets-Exeter game and did well enough.

[Scrumhead]

Trinder on the wing? hmmm. Hope Lozowski seizes the moment.

Definitely. I'd have preferred to see Lozowski on the England bench ahead of Slade TBH.

[Tigersman]

Burger is having a mare.

[twitchy]

What a second half.

[Mellsblue]

Blimey. Didn’t see that coming. Glos are on a bit of a role.

[Stom]

They've been good, but Loz has had a bit of a mare. And a few others haven't been very good either, Burger and Kruis, for instance.

[Timbo]

Kruis was pretty crap, a couple of lineout steals aside. There’s no snap going into contact, both in defence and attack. Not sure what’s up with him, but he looks some way short of his best at the moment. On the other hand, Isiekwe is quality.

[Mellsblue]

Rumours are he’s carrying a niggling ankle injury he can’t shake and/or the Lions tour has done a ‘Balshaw’ on him.

[Raggs]

Loz just doesn't look like a 10 to me, bit like Slade. Has all the handling skills, but I don't think he reads the game well enough from the 10 position, good enough to step in and act as first receiver here and there, but not to run the game.

[twitchy]

So is that young glos 9 velacott the guy the rfu were complaining about the scottish poaching? He looks class.

[Banquo]

Glaws defence was fantastic; Sarries handling was poor. Glaws improved no end when Vellacott came on, no coincidence I think.

[fivepointer]

Great result for Glaws. They've become a really tough side, well drilled and very resilient. Fair play, Ackerman is doing a terrific job so far.
Saracens definitely off colour. Kruis does look out of sorts, lacking the kind of power and authority you would expect. Carrying a knock might explain his tailing off of form.
Vellacot has looked good every time he's had a chance. He is English - at least he was born in England and has, i think, played all his rugby here. He has played age group rugby for Scotland, so obviously has some family link, but he is the kind of talent England might want to take a serious look at.

[Stom]

Loz just doesn't look like a 10 to me, bit like Slade. Has all the handling skills, but I don't think he reads the game well enough from the 10 position, good enough to step in and act as first receiver here and there, but not to run the game.

If he wants to be a 10, he needs a good long run of games there. But he doesn't get that...

[Digby]

Loz just doesn't look like a 10 to me, bit like Slade. Has all the handling skills, but I don't think he reads the game well enough from the 10 position, good enough to step in and act as first receiver here and there, but not to run the game.

Loz does what Ford used to do (albeit Ford was a kid) which is play more for himself than the team. Hopefully with more experience at top level he'll improve that, although it can be an asset too looking at the NZ 10. Given it's Sarries I'll assume they do have someone sensible sitting down with him to go through stuff he does and other people do to highlight where improvements can come

[Timbo]

Agree with Raggs about Lozowski. Would like to see him get game time at 12 with Farrell at 10.

[bitts]

Great result for Glaws. They've become a really tough side, well drilled and very resilient. Fair play, Ackerman is doing a terrific job so far.
Saracens definitely off colour. Kruis does look out of sorts, lacking the kind of power and authority you would expect. Carrying a knock might explain his tailing off of form.
Vellacot has looked good every time he's had a chance. He is English - at least he was born in England and has, i think, played all his rugby here. He has played age group rugby for Scotland, so obviously has some family link, but he is the kind of talent England might want to take a serious look at.

We've already got two scrum-halfs thankyou- don't need anymore

[Digby]

Agree with Raggs about Lozowski. Would like to see him get game time at 12 with Farrell at 10.

12 or even 15. Both shirts, like the 10 shirt, have obvious 1st choice players at Sarries however