30 year-old Azam, who has been a replacement in the last few games, makes his first start since late October after a shoulder injury.

The French front row man starts ahead of Mefin Davies, who was ruled out late in the week with a dead leg after taking a knock to it during last weekend’s Wales game. Azam’s fellow hooker and countryman Noel Curnier backs-up from the bench.

Brad Davies and Alex Page form the half-back partnership for the Irish clash, with Andy Gomarsall missing out on the matchday 22. Henry Paul is absent after picking up a knee injury in last weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens. Paul’s Sevens team mate and England captain Simon Amor provides cover from the bench.

James Simpson-Daniel moves back to the wing, and Kiwi centre Nathan Mauger starts in midfield alongside Terry Fanolua.

England open-side Andy Hazell returns to the starting line-up after international duties, and partners captain Adam Balding and Peter Buxton in the back-row.

Gloucester’s Brad Davies believes that his Premiership experiences this season have helped him prepare for Saturday’s key Premiership clash away at London Irish.

The 22 year-old stand-off, who has made five Premiership appearances this season, starts alongside Alex Page at half-back with Duncan McRae still ruled out through injury.

 
Davies saw first team action for Gloucester during the Autumn, and has also been a match winner when he kicked a last minute winning drop goal against Bath in February.

Commenting on www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com Davies said: “I’ve learned from those experiences in the Autumn. Everyone knows that the Premiership is a big step-up, but when you’re involved in games against Wasps, Leicester, Wasps and then Leicester again, like we did in the Autumn, and the likes of Johnson, Dallaglio and Back, you draw on that and learn from it.

“I believe I’m a better player for it, both physically and mentally. I’ve drawn on that in recent weeks, and I’ll be taking it into Saturday’s game.”

Duncan McRae is targeting the Leeds clash on 9 April to be in contention after a number of weeks out injured, and Davies added:

“Duncan is a quality player, but Leeds is two weeks away, and everyone who is involved on Saturday is only looking at that game, that’s what the focus is on.

“We want and need the win, and that’s what is first and foremost in our minds as we’ve been preparing for the Irish game.”

The Kingsholm Supporters Mutual-organised coaches for supporters leave Kingsholm at 1pm on Saturday for the match that kicks off at 5pm.

The Clubhouse bar at Kingsholm will open at 1pm on Saturday for the England football match and for the Gloucester game at 5pm.

Gloucester:
15. Jon Goodridge
14. Marcel Garvey
13. Nathan Mauger
12. Terry Fanolua
11. James Simpson-Daniel
10. Brad Davies
9. Alex Page
1. Nick Wood
2. Olivier Azam
3. Gary Powell
4. Adam Eustace
5. Alex Brown
6. Peter Buxton
7. Andy Hazell
8. Adam Balding (c)

Replacements:
16. Noel Curnier
17. Terry Sigley
18. James Forrester
19. Jake Boer
20. Simon Amor
21. Seti Kiole
22. Olly Morgan

Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership:
Played 15;
London Irish Won 5  33.3%;
Gloucester Won 10  66.7%;
Drawn 0  0%; 
Biggest Win for London Irish 35 - 10 16 Apr 2001;
Biggest Win for Gloucester 40 - 15 26 Dec 1999;
London Irish top try scorer vs Gloucester Paul Sackey 4 tries; 
London Irish top points scorer vs Gloucester Barry Everitt 92 points;
Gloucester top try scorer vs London Irish Junior Paramore 3 tries; 
Gloucester top points scorer vs London Irish Ludovic Mercier 59 points.

Previous 10 Meetings

11 Sep 2004 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  16 - 23 Kingsholm  
18 Apr 2004 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  13 - 28 Kingsholm  
21 Sep 2003 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  16 - 10 Madejski Stadium  
30 Nov 2002 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  20 - 25 Kingsholm  
10 Nov 2002 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  19 - 40 Madejski Stadium  
09 Feb 2002 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  22 - 29 Kingsholm  
21 Oct 2001 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  19 - 15 Madejski Stadium  
16 Apr 2001 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  35 - 10 Madejski Stadium  
25 Nov 2000 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  6 - 26 Kingsholm  
20 May 2000 ZP London Irish vs Gloucester  40 - 42 The Stoop

The only win for the Irishmen in their last six matches came at Saracens in the Zurich Premiership on 20 February. The Exiles have lost their last three games at Madejski Stadium – they have never lost four in a row at home since moving to Reading in 2000-01.

Gloucester too have struggled of late with just one win in their last five outings – 17-16 over Bath at Kingsholm on 19 February. Gloucester have not won away from home in the Premiership since an 18-13 victory at Worcester on 16 October.

Gloucester won 23-16 when they met London Irish in the Premiership in September but they have beaten The Exiles just once in five previous visits to Madejski Stadium – 40-19 in the Premiership in November 2002.