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Ben Morgan takes over as captain for Gloucester’s Premiership test at Leicester

All Areas > Sport

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Friday, 4th January 2019, 15:00

Johan Ackermann Johan Ackermann

Ben Morgan will skipper Gloucester in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership fixture at Leicester Tigers (3pm).

Morgan, who has already captained Gloucester this season in the Heineken Cup at home to Castres Olympique, will lead a team that features half-a-dozen changes from the side that started against Sale Sharks last weekend.

Gerbrandt Grobler comes in to partner Franco Mostert in an all South African second row, while Freddie Clarke and Gareth Evans return to the back row.

Callum Braley replaces Willi Heinz at scrum-half, and Ollie Thorley and Mark Atkinson both return from injury to line up on the left wing and at inside centre respectively.

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann admitted that video analysis from the Sale game hadn’t been fun this week, but that the team have been working hard to put things right for a fixture that will pose a tough challenge.

“The video wasn’t pretty, but we learned a lot about our lack of accuracy and the things that we did wrong,” he said. “There are plenty of areas that we need to tweak and need to get better. We looked at ourselves in depth and at our detail.

“We also watched Bath against Leicester which was a bruising battle. Leicester created a lot of opportunities and were in the fight right until the end. You look at their team and they have internationals everywhere.

“They’re a quality team and, despite their league position, the reality is that they’re going to be a desperate and highly motivated side. They’re also playing at home so we will have to up our game massively if we are to have any chance.”

Meanwhile, Will Evans and Mike Williams return to the Leicester pack. Head coach Geordan Murphy names Williams and Evans in the back row, with Mike Fitzgerald moving into the second row alongside Graham Kitchener.

There is also a change in the backline where Jordan Olowofela returns on the wing, with Jonah Holmes reverting to the full-back spot.

Greg Bateman returns from injury to take his place among the replacements, and there is a place for Kyle Eastmond after serving a ban.

Murphy said: “It’s good to have Greg and Kyle back available to play this week and give us extra options in the squad.

“We were frustrated not to get more out of a very physical game at Bath last weekend, but we’ve been working on where we can improve and Gloucester will present a big challenge.”

Leicester Tigers: 15 Jonah Holmes; 14 Jonny May, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Jordan Olowofela; 10 George Ford (capt), 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Mike Williams, 7 Will Evans, 8 Sione Kalamafoni. Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Greg Bateman, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Brendon O’Connor, 21 Ben White, 22 Kyle Eastmond, 23 George Worth.

Gloucester: 15. Tom Hudson; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Owen Williams, 9. Callum Braley; 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Jaco Visagie, 3. Fraser Balmain; 4. Gerbrandt Grobler, 5. Franco Mostert; 6. Freddie Clarke, 7. Gareth Evans, 8. Ben Morgan (capt). Replacements: 16. Henry Walker, 17. Paddy McAllister, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Lewis Ludlow, 21. Ben Vellacott, 22. Henry Trinder, 23. Matt Banahan. Unavailable: Ruan Ackermann, Danny Cipriani, Gareth Denman, Ruan Dreyer, Todd Gleave, James Hanson, Willi Heinz, Jaco Kriel, Franco Marais, Tom Marshall, Jake Polledri, Henry Purdy, Val Rapava Ruskin, Will Safe, Jason Woodward.

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