Injuries bite, but Ryan names strong EDF side

Injuries are starting to really bite into the Gloucester squad, but coach Dean Ryan is still able to name a strong team for the EDF clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Kingsholm on Saturday. A string of first-choice players are unavailable with a variety of ailments, but the squad's strength in depth means Ryan has been able to bring in top replacements.

The major new absentee is James Simpson-Daniel (right), who will be out for up to three months with an ankle ligament injury on which he will have surgery next week. The injury also robs England of the services of the winger, surely one of the unluckiest players in the Premiership in recent years.
He's joined on the sidelines tomorrow, though hopefully for a shorter time, by the likes of Ryan Lamb, Gareth Cooper, Alex Brown and Luke Narraway, with Olly Morgan, Anthony Allen and Matthew Watkins all still ruled out.
Ryan told the Citizen (and a few others, probably): "I have said before we are taking this competition very seriously – we are facing a fellow Heineken Cup side and many aspects of the contest with resemble Europe. This is not something we are taking lightly.
"We want to be successful week on week, regardless of the opposition or competition. That is how you build a competitive, durable side and tomorrow is a huge contest for us - there is no doubt about that.
"We need to show a reaction from the defeat against Cardiff and tomorrow represents a great opportunity to do that."

GLAWS: Iain Balshaw, Mark Foster, Mike Tindall (capt), Olly Barkley, Lesley Vainikolo, Willie Walker, Rory Lawson; Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson, Carlos Nieto, Adam Eustace, Marco Bortolami, Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, Alasdair Strokosch. Reps: Andy Titterrell, Jack Forster, Dan Williams, Apo Satala, Dave Lewis, Tristan Roberts, Jack Adams.