By New Cherry
September 9 2022
Gloucs are promising a respectful occasion off the field as Wasps arrive for the season opener on Sunday - kick off 3.00.
It will undoubtedly be a more subdued Shed as we pay our respects as a rugby family.
On the field it promises to be an excellent opportunity for the Cherry and Whites to set out on their top four ambition. Wasps struggled last season and don't appear to have strengthened during the summer - no doubt because of their well publicised financial issues.
Gloucs will have one new face on the bench in the shape of back row Albert Tuisue. Skipper Lewis Ludlow is missing, of course, so Ruan Ackermann leads a strong looking side which also has the benefit of a really poweerful bench.
Gloucs: 15. Lloyd Evans 14. Louis Rees-Zammit 13. Chris Harris 12. Mark Atkinson 11. Ollie Thorley 10. Adam Hastings 9. Charlie Chapman 1. Harry Elrington 2. Jack Singleton 3. Fraser Balmain 4. Freddie Clarke 5. Alex Craig 6. Ruan Ackermann (captain) 7. Harry Taylor 8. Ben Morgan.
Replacements: 16. Santiago Socino 17. Val Rapava-Ruskin 18. Jamal Ford-Robinson 19. Cameron Jordan 20. Albert Tuisue 21. Ben Meehan 22. Billy Twelvetrees 23. Kyle Moyle
Wasps: 1 Robin Hislop 2 Tom Cruse 3 John Ryan 4 Joe Launchbury (Capt.) 5 Kiran McDonald 6 Tom Willis 7 Brad Shields 8 Alfie Barbeary 9 Dan Robson 10 Charlie Atkinson 11 Josh Bassett 12 Burger Odendaal 13 Sam Spink 14 Zach Kibirige 15 Matteo Minozzi
Replacements: Dan Frost, Elliot Millar-Mills, Biyi Alo, Ben Morris, Jack Willis, Will Porter, Ryan Mills, Ali Crossdale