Gloucester vs London Irish - Sat 3pm

[Puja]

15. Lloyd Evans*
14. Jonny May*
13. Chris Harris
12. Seb Atkinson
11. Ollie Thorley*
10. Santiago Carreras
9. Ben Meehan
1. Harry Elrington
2. Santiago Socino
3. Kirill Gotovtsev
4. Alex Craig*
5. Matias Alemanno
6. Harry Taylor*
7. Lewis Ludlow (C)
8. Ruan Ackermann

Replacements

16. George McGuigan
17. Alex Seville*
18. Ciaran Knight*
19. Cam Jordan*
20. Albert Tuisue
21. Stephen Varney*
22. Billy Twelvetrees
23. Tom Seabrook*



London Irish: 15 Ben Loader, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Benhard van Rensburg, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Mike Willemse, 3 Oliver Hoskins, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Matt Rogerson (c).

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Chandler Cunningham-South, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Luca Morisi.

[Puja]

A few interesting England things to look at here. SAtkinson, OHC, and Pearson all had big games for the Bigwick last week, but they need to back it up if they want to make the training game in early Jan.

Puja

[Timbo]

Ben Loader has been looking the business at fullback in recent games. Very talented player, just needs to stay fit.

[Banquo]

Ben Loader has been looking the business at fullback in recent games. Very talented player, just needs to stay fit.

They have a load a talent there . Parton (off obviously) and Arundell too. Stokes has apparently done ok, which as one of my club's former players is pleasing and bit surprising , though no spring chicken.

[Margin_Walker]

Loader's been really good this season. More threatening that Parton has been when he's played and has strung a few injury free games together (touch wood). I quite like him at full back too.

Stokes is a decent pro and made the jump up from the Championship well later in his career than most. Good basics and a decent finisher, but if he's playing, we've probably got injuries.

Back three production line is in good shape though. Couple of decent wings in the academy (Dykes and Harmes) and a real prospect playing U18s in Sam Rockley, who really looks pro rugby ready. Just need a few tight 5 forwards or half backs to properly make the jump to first team rugby.

Big game tomorrow. Losing Simmons to an accumulation of yellows is a pain. Especially against a team like Gloucester who like to keep it tight.

[Timbo]

When Loader and OHC burst through around the same time I always preferred Loader, tbh. Looked smarter and less reliant on pure athletic gifts. OHC has surprised me a bit with his development, especially this year looking a lot more assured in defence, but I still think Loader is a top player in the making.

[Gloskarlos]

Not confident this weekend, great to see Thorley back after such a long period out, but Glos are down to last man standing with injuries. Irish on a high from beating Sarries, could be close.

[Margin_Walker]

We've a poor record at Kingsholm so I'm not confident either.

Loader's been jinxed by the talk about him here. Drops out through illness. Stokes in to full back.

[Margin_Walker]

Not a classic in the rain at HT. Just two points in it, but Gloucester with the upper hand.

5 - 3

[Gloskarlos]

Right result, but too nail biting, and almost lost it. Too many wasted opportunities and too many injuries, that’s Socino out now for a good while I expect and looks like Craig broke his wrist. Bare bones.

[Margin_Walker]

Would have been lucky to win, albeit it will have made a change, given the number of times we've been the better side and lost this season. Losing with 90 seconds to go, a man up and with Gloucester trapped in their 22 was vintage London Irish though. Topped off by a completely needless penalty given away on halfway.

Oh well, on to 2023.

Happy New Year all

[Danno]

That wasn't the kind of scoreline I was expecting