By New Cherry
October 20 2022

Gloucester and Irish lag behind other Premiership clubs having only played four games each and, while it is still very early in the season, Friday night's encounter could go a long way to deciding how the season pans out.

Gloucs go into the game in 4th place and with two games in hand on third place Saints. A five point win would put the Cherry and Whites just four points behind leaders Sarries.

Irish, on the other hand, are in second bottom place with just one win to their name - they will be looking to overtake Falcons who have just one more point.

There are just two changes from the side which held out against Bristol last week. Santiago Socino replaces Jack Singleton in the front row and Charlie Chapman comes in at scrum half for Ben Meehan.

Gloucs have been able to offer jobs to Worcester trio Alex Hearle, Seb Atkinson and Finn Theobald-Thomas who will be watching from the stands and no doubt looking forward to continuing their careers.

Gloucs: 15. Santiago Carreras 14. Louis Rees-Zammit 13. Chris Harris 12. Giorgi Kveseladze 11. Jonny May 10. Adam Hastings 9. Charlie Chapman1. Val Rapava-Ruskin 2. Santiago Socino 3. Fraser Balmain 4. Freddie Clarke 5. Matias Alemanno 6. Jordy Reid 7. Lewis Ludlow (captain) 8. Ruan Ackermann.

 Bench: 16. Jack Singleton 17. Harry Elrington 18. Ciaran Knight 19. Cam Jordan 20. Albert Tuisue 21. Stephen Varney 22. Jack Reeves 23. Lloyd Evans.