TOM COVENTRY has named the same London Irish starting XV which beat Northampton Saints on Boxing Day for Saturday’s trip to Gloucester (3pm kick-off).
The Exiles scored their first win of the Aviva Premiership season when defeating Saints 25-23 at Madejski Stadium last Saturday courtesy of a late penalty try.
Head coach Coventry, therefore, has kept faith with the same 15 players which started that match as Irish head to Kingsholm looking to record successive victories in the league and try to close the gap on those teams directly above them in the standings in the process.
“The squad are buoyed after last Saturday’s first win of the season,” he said.
“They have continued to work hard in training this week and know it will be another tough contest at Gloucester on Saturday.
“We look forward to the challenge.”
No alterations to the starting line-up means Will Lloyd, a late replacement to the side which took on Northampton in place of Nic Rouse, keeps his place alongside captain Matt Symons in the second row.
The front row comprises of Tom Court, David Paice and Ben Franks, with Luke Narraway, Blair Cowan and Ofisa Treviranus making up the back row.
Brendan McKibbin and Chris Noakes retain their places at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, while Johnny Williams and Ciaran Hearn line up in midfield.
The back three is made up of Aseli Tikoirotuma, Alex Lewington and Sean Maitland.
Gerard Ellis and Topsy Ojo, meanwhile, are named among the replacements having missed the Saints clash.
LONDON IRISH: Maitland, Lewington, Hearn, Williams, Tikoirotuma, Noakes, McKibbin, Court, Paice, Franks, Symons (c), Lloyd, Narraway, Cowan, Treviranus.
Replacements: Ellis, Smallbone, Aulika, Sinclair, Trayfoot, Steele, Geraghty, Ojo.