England starlet Henry Arundell has returned for London Irish’s Premiership clash with Gloucester on Friday.
Arundell missed last week’s game against Sale Sharks, a contest they lost 37-14, but is back in the XV for the upcoming encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium.
In the front-row, Danilo Fischetti, Agustin Creevy and Lovejoy Chawatama combine, with Api Ratuniyarawa and Rob Simmons in the second-row.
Juan Martin Gonzalez, Tom Pearson and So’otala Fa’aso’o make up the back-row.
Ben White and captain Paddy Jackson continue their partnership in the half-backs, and Benhard Janse van Rensburg joins Lucio Cinti to form the centre duo.
Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ben Loader and Arundell make up the back three.
“It’s another tough challenge in store for us when Gloucester Rugby turn up to the Gtech Community Stadium tomorrow night, but one that we are excited for,” director of rugby Declan Kidney said.
“It’s always a special occasion playing under the floodlights on a Friday night, and I’m sure tomorrow evening will be no different. It’s our first Friday night fixture in the Gallagher Premiership, so I’m sure the atmosphere will be brilliant.”
Two changes for Gloucester
Meanwhile, head coach George Skivington has made two changes to the starting XV that defeated Bristol Bears last weekend.
Argentinian hooker Santiago Socino replaces Jack Singleton, who has been named in Eddie Jones’ England squad for the autumn, in the front-row.
Val Rapava-Ruskin maintains his position at loose-head and like Singleton, also joins up with England in the Autumn. Fraser Balmain completes the front-row.
It’s as was for the rest of the pack with Freddie Clarke and Matias Alemanno in the second-row and Jordy Reid, Lewis Ludlow and Ruan Ackermann in the back-row.
The singular change in the back line sees Charlie Chapman come in for Ben Meehan at scrum-half. He is partnered with Adam Hastings who keeps his place at outside half.
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Giorgi Kveseladze and Chris Harris continue in the centres with the back three of Jonny May, Louis Rees-Zammit and Santiago Carreras also remaining from the Bristol win.
On the bench, Jack Singleton drops from the starting XV where he joins Harry Elrington, Ciaran Knight, Cam Jordan, Albert Tuisue, Stephen Varney, Jack Reeves and Lloyd Evans.
Form: London Irish have won just one of their last four Premiership Rugby matches: 47-38 at home to Bath on October 1. The Exiles are unbeaten in their last seven fixtures in all competitions at Gtech Community Stadium since Harlequins beat them there in Premiership Rugby on April 3, a run which includes two draws. Gloucester Rugby’s only defeat in any competition this season was 39-41 at Saracens in Round Three of Premiership Rugby. Gloucester won their most recent away game in Premiership Rugby at Bath in Round Five and have not won successive fixtures on the road in the tournament since January. Gloucester are unbeaten in their last three matches against London Irish, although the two clubs did share a 25-25 draw the last time they met at Brentford in Round Five last season.
The teams:
London Irish: 15 Henry Arundell, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson (c), 9 Ben White, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Will Joseph, 23 Tom Parton
Gloucester: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Jonny May, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Santiago Socino, 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Jack Reeves, 23 Lloyd Evans
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson, Joe James
TMO: Andrew Jackson