(Photo: Getty Images)
By Jake Jones
Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has urged his Gloucester side to ‘get out of the blocks fast' in the first of this season's Challenge Cup semi finals between Gloucester and Newcastle Falcons.
Gloucester are coming off the back of a 37-9 win against a struggling Harlequins side, scoring an unanswered 21 points in the final nine minutes. While Newcastle were involved in a much tighter game against Sale Sharks, relying on a last-minute Rob Vickers try to earn victory at Kingston Park, 35-30.
From Newcastle's point of view, director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Gloucester have got stacks of pace and I think they're an outstanding team.
“It will be an interesting duel, their form is probably a bit better than ours in recent weeks but I thought the way we came back against Sale means it will go right down to the wire. If that transpires then I feel we have more chance of winning it than they have, just down to our ability to finish off the tight games.”
Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has made six changes to his side from the Harlequins victory, including a new-look front row.
Ackermann looked ahead to the fixture and described the two as ‘well-balanced and little to choose between the teams'.
Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons, Kingsholm (19:45)
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Henry Trinder, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Callum Braley; 1 Paddy McAllister, 2 Motu Matu'u, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Ed Slater (c), 5 Mariano Galarza, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Jake Polledri, 8 Ben Morgan
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 John Afoa, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Andy Symons, 23 Charlie Sharples
Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Harris, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Zach Kibirige, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Michael Young (c); 1 Sam Lockwood, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Calum Green, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Evan Olmstead, 7 Gary Graham, 8 Ryan Burrows
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Will Witty, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Adam Radwan, 23 Tom Penny
