Adams and Van Velze return for Gloucester derby

Warriors welcome back Wales winger Josh Adams and captain GJ van Velze for their Gallagher Premiership derby match with Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on Saturday (kick-off 3.00pm).

Adams returns to club duty after impressing for Wales in their recent Autumn Internationals against Australia and South Africa.

Number eight Van Velze missed last Friday’s victory over Harlequins at Sixways due to injury but he has regained fitness and will take his place in the middle of the back row at Kingsholm.

Warriors have been forced to make two more changes to their starting XV with scrum-half Francois Hougaard and openside flanker Sam Lewis both ruled out by injuries.

Michael Heaney, a summer signing from Doncaster Knights, will make his first Premiership start in Hougaard’s absence with Matti Williams, who started at Bath two weeks ago, returning to the back row in place of Lewis.

Tighthead prop Gareth Milasinovich will reach the landmark of 50 career appearances for Warriors if he comes off the bench.

Milasinovich, 25, joined Warriors from the University of Johannesburg three years ago and made his senior debut in the 2015/16 season.

Warriors
15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Francois Venter
12 Ryan Mills
11 Josh Adams
10 Duncan Weir
9 Michael Heaney
1 Callum Black
2 Jack Singleton
3 Nick Schonert
4 Anton Bresler
5 Pierce Phillips
6 Ted Hill
7 Matti Williams
8 GJ van Velze (c)

Replacements
16 Niall Annett
17 Ethan Waller
18 Gareth Milasinovich
19 Darren Barry
20 Matt Cox
21 Jonny Arr
22 Jamie Shillcock
23 Wynand Olivier

Gloucester

15 Jason Woodward, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Owen Williams, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 1 Josh Hohneck, 2 James Hanson, 3 Fraser Balmain; 4 Tom Savage, 5 Ed Slater; 6 Freddie Clarke, 7 Jaco Kriel, 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jake Polledri, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Henry Trinder, 23 Tom Hudson.

 

 

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