2nd September 2005
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP, Sixways, Sunday 4th September 2005 (3pm kick-off)
Worcester Warriors begin the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP season on Sunday with a local derby against Gloucester, and John Brain, director of rugby has announced the team.
Pat Sanderson captains the side, with Matt Powell taking the number 9 spot. Jonny Hylton makes his first Premiership start, returning after a serious knee injury that kept him out of the squad last season. And scrum half Nick Runciman is named on the bench.
John Brain, Worcester's director of rugby said: "We have named our team based on our pre-season friendlies and feel that it is a strong line up to take on Gloucester. We have experienced some injuries during pre-season, but the 22 named are an experienced side and we are looking forward to the match."
Worcester Warriors team to face Gloucester:
15. Thinus Delport
14. Jonny Hylton
13. Dale Rasmussen
12. Thomas Lombard
11. Ben Hinshelwood
10. James Brown
9. Matt Powell
8. Drew Hickey
7. Pat Sanderson (Captain)
6. Saiosi Vaili
5. Craig Gillies
4. Tim Collier
3. Chris Horsman
2. Andre Van Niekerk
1. Tony Windo
Replacements:
16. Tevita Tuamoepeau
17. Chris Fortey
18. Phil Murphy
19. Chris Horstmann
20. Nick Runciman
21. Shane Drahm
22. Nicolas Le Roux
JAKE BOER has predicted 'a huge derby contest' when Gloucester travel to Sixways on Sunday to open their GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP campaign against Worcester (3pm).
The Kingsholm flanker has been named in a full-strength side by head coach Dean Ryan and is relishing the first west country derby examination of the new season.
Ryan will hand Premiership debuts to three players - full-back Rob Thirlby, centre Mike Tindall and scrum-half Peter Richards.
England's Phil Vickery will pack down alongside Patrice Collazo and Olivier Azam in a heavy-duty front three with Mefin Davies, the Welsh international, on the bench.
But Boer told www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk. "We know it's going to be a huge contest. It's only after the first Premiership game that you know where you really stand.
"First and foremost we are in a local derby and that always means a big confrontation, particularly in the forwards.
"We know what to expect and we also have a lot of respect for Worcester because they play good rugby and are very competitive. The clear fact is that it is down to us to try and set the standards we want."
Boer will line-up in a back row alongside skipper Adam Balding and breakaway Andy Hazell, while Adam Eustace and Alex Brown form the second row partnership.
Richards and Ludovic Mercier - the prolific French points scorer - are the half-back combination, while Tindall partners Henry Paul in the centre. James Simpson-Daniel, the brilliant England winger, is named on the wing with Mark Foster who has made such an impression during pre-season and scored a hat-trick against Calvisano.
Summer signing and England Sevens international Rob Thirlby will start his first competitive match at full-back.
GLOUCESTER v (Worcester, Sunday, Sixways, 3pm): Rob Thirlby; Mark Foster, Mike Tindall, Henry Paul, James Simpson-Daniel; Ludovic Mercier, Peter Richards; Patrice Collazo, Olivier Azam, Phil Vickery, Adam Eustace, Alex Brown, Jake Boer, Andy Hazell, Adam Balding (capt). Reps: Mefin Davies, Gary Powell, Mark Cornwell, Peter Buxton, Haydn Thomas, Duncan McRae, Jon Goodridge.
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