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Hulking Puma gets first start as Gloucester name powerful side for West Country derby

(Photo by Warren Little/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Gloucester Rugby have named the side that will make the short trip to Bath tomorrow to take on their West-Country rivals at the Recreation Ground. Gloucester head coach George Skivington has handed a full debut to Argentine international, Matias Alemanno (6’7, 114kg), who made an impressive impact off the bench against Harlequins last week. Alemanno partners former Bath man, Matt Garvey in the second row.

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Jack Singleton and Ruan Ackermann return to the pack after missing last week’s game, with Ackermann stepping in at 8, and Jake Polledri switching to blindside flanker.

There’s also a welcome return for Willi Heinz as he makes his first appearance since the restart, following a successful recovery from injury. He will link up with Lloyd Evans at fly half, who steps up from the bench alongside Billy Twelvetrees at inside centre.

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‘I was Never Alone’ Sir Ian McGeechan

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    ‘I was Never Alone’ Sir Ian McGeechan

    In the back three Matt Banahan comes in at full-back to face his former club, with Thorley and May retaining their spots on the wings.

    GLOUCESTER RUGBY
    15. Matt Banahan, 14. Ollie Thorley, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Jonny May, 10. Lloyd Evans, 9. Willi Heinz; 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2. Jack Singleton, 3. Fraser Balmain, 4. Ed Slater, 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Jake Polledri, 7. Lewis Ludlow ©, 8. Ruan Ackermann

    REPLACEMENTS
    16. Henry Walker, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Jack Stanley, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Jordy Reid, 21. Joe Simpson, 22. Tom Seabrook, 23. Louis Rees-Zammit.

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    DarstedlyDan 1 hour ago
    New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

    Italy have a top 14 issue too, that’s true. I doubt SA are overly pleased by that, although it’s countered somewhat by the fact they would expect to thrash them anyway, so perhaps are not that bothered.


    The BIL teams are (aside from Ireland) A/B teams - still with many A team players. I would rather the England team touring Argentina be playing the ABs than this French one.


    France could have reduced the complaints and the grounds for such if they had still picked the best team from those eligible/available. But they haven’t even done that. This, plus the playing of silly b@ggers with team selection over the three tests is just a big middle finger to the ABs and the NZ rugby public.


    One of the key reasons this is an issue is the revenue sharing one. Home teams keep the ticket revenues. If the July tours are devalued to development larks then the crowds will not show up (why go watch teams featuring names you’ve never heard of?). This costs the SH unions. The NH unions on the other hand get the advantage of bums on seats from full strength SH teams touring in November. If the NH doesn’t want to play ball by touring full strength, then pay up and share gate receipts. That would be fair, and would reduce the grounds for complaint from the south. This has been suggested, but the NH unions want their cake and eat it too. And now, apparently, we are not even allowed to complain about it?


    Finally - no one is expecting France to do things the way NZ or SA do. We oddly don’t really mind that it probably makes them less successful at RWC than they would otherwise have been. But a bit of willingness to find a solution other than “lump it, we’re French” would go a looonnng way.

    79 Go to comments
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