Gloucester Rugby: try machine Clark wings in with Tindall at ten
HARTPURY RFC try machine Ian Clark has won his senior Gloucester debut for tomorrow’s London Irish trip.
Mike Tindall starts at fly-half, and will share the number ten duties with centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.
The duo are likely to interchange in the Madejski Stadium LV=Cup clash (kick-off 3pm), to maximise their varied skills in relatively unfamiliar stand-off surroundings.
Hartpury College and Gloucester Academy youngster Clark starts on the wing in place of the injured Henry Trinder, with new signing Ollie Phillips again sidelined by a hamstring strain.
Former Colston’s School pupil Clark came off the bench in last weekend’s 40-3 Cardiff hammering, dotting down for a score that was chalked off due to a forward pass.
The 19-year-old boasts 21 tries in 14 matches for Hartpury RFC in National League Two South this term, his first season out of schools rugby.
Gloucester Academy and England Under-18s fly-half Billy Burns steps onto the bench to ease the Cherry and Whites’ chronic backs problems.
Some 12 Kingsholm regulars are unavailable as a result of international duty, so head coach Bryan Redpath has had to stretch his resources to the limit.
To that end flanker Akapusi Qera takes the final seat on the bench usually reserved for back-three cover.
The flying Fijian certainly has the pace and ambition to make a formidable fist of backline duty, but will no doubt not be thrown into that mix lightly.
Gloucester can at least be consistent with their pack, the travelling side able to make just one change to their front eight.
Matt Cox slots in for rib injury victim Brett Deacon, with Pete Buxton again skippering the side.
Lock Tom Savage returns for the first time since November after knee surgery for a place on the bench.
Impressive front-row trio Dan Murphy, Darren Dawidiuk and Shaun Knight will have a job on their hands against a powerful Irish side.
Former All Black Clarke Dermody captains the Exiles from loosehead prop, with Romanian cornerstone Paulica Ion ensuring a formidable front-row.
GLOUCESTER: Tom Voyce, Ian Clark, Tim Molenaar, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall, Dave Lewis, Dan Murphy, Darren Dawidiuk, Shaun Knight, Will James, Alex Brown, Pete Buxton (capt), Andy Hazell, Matt Cox. Replacements: Matias Cortese, Yann Thomas, Dario Chistolini, Tom Savage, Gareth Evans, Nick Runciman, Billy Burns, Akapusi Qera.
LONDON IRISH: Tom Homer, Adam Thompstone, Jonathan Spratt, Shontayne Hape, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Dan Bowden, Darren Allinson, Clarke Dermody (capt), Brian Blaney, Paulica Ion, Nick Kennedy, Bryn Evans, Matt Garvey, David Sisi, Richard Thorpe. Replacements: David Paice, Max Lahiff, Mark George, Kieran Roche, Alex Gray, Guy Armitage, Adrian Jarvis, Ross Samson.
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by Kingsholm_Kid
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:00AM
“Well said, FlankForward. It will undoubtedly cause the England supporters to go into another bout of tantrums but, as a Gloucester Rugby supporter, it naturally follows that I have absolutely no interest in their daft England rugby team.”
by FlankForward
Sunday, February 05 2012, 10:48AM
“None of the clubs' players should have been purloined to take part in the daft six nations. They should all be back with the clubs to which they are contracted. Fortunately for Gloucester the club retained the services of Simpson-Daniel. The six nations and the RFU, etc. can all go and take a flying leap!”
by Grimman
Sunday, February 05 2012, 10:01AM
“Sheffer, as we have seen in A league games, Ian Clark does have a huge amount of pace. Yesterday, he took his chances very well, as us genuine Gloucester Rugby fans who went along to support the team know very well. And it was a good effort from a team that has been pillaged of its players by the useless and pointless England teams. Why the hell they can't go out and develop their own players and leave ours alone, I don't know.”
by Forest_Man
Sunday, February 05 2012, 9:49AM
“Quote "What is the point of putting a squad together and developing players when the useless national teams juts come along and hijack Gloucester Rugby players. All our players should be back at the club playing for Gloucester Rugby. Stuff the so-called national teams."
Fantastic post and one that I totally agree with.”
by Rob_Tanner
Sunday, February 05 2012, 1:24AM
“Oh dear! A whinging England supporter losing the plot. Hahahahahaha!
Gloucester Rugby players for Gloucester Rugby only.”
by graybaggs
Sunday, February 05 2012, 12:47AM
“I agree with all the sensible comments from Gloucester rugby supporters. Why should our players be taken to play in useless international games; after all, no one from Leicester, Saracens, Northampton, London Irish, Sale, Wasps, Harlequins or Bath ever has to go and play international rugby, do they? It's so unfair!”
by Sheffer
Saturday, February 04 2012, 2:57PM
“I understand that Screech (AKA Ian Clark) has pace to burn and there has been some debate about whether he is faster than May & Sharples.”
by Paul_Hastings
Saturday, February 04 2012, 10:14AM
“Hear, hear, Conrad and Peter. If there pointless national teams with their pointless tournaments need players, let them go and develop their own. But they are far too useless to do that.”
by TerryGlaws
Saturday, February 04 2012, 9:25AM
“Great comments, Peter Tret and Conrad Selby; just what we have come to expect from genuine Gloucester Rugby supporters on this message board. And they are comments that I totally support.
Gloucester Rugby players for Gloucester Rugby only. Stuff the national teams!”
by ConradSelby
Saturday, February 04 2012, 9:04AM
“I agree Peter. The club puts in a lot of time and effort in finding and developing players to build a squad. Why don't these useless, pointless and wholly irrelevant so-called national teams do the same and get their own players if they want to keep up the pretence of playing the game.”