Gloucester v Newcastle (Sat)

Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples is ruled out with a dead leg and is replaced by Jonny May, while Freddie Burns starts at full-back.

Prop Nick Wood, lock Jim Hamilton and flanker Andy Hazell all start and number eight Brett Deacon makes the bench after three months out.

Newcastle assemble a new front row of Grant Sheills, Rob Vickers and Euan Murray with Mark Wilson at flanker.

Tane Tu’ipulotu is on the wing while Rob Vickerman comes into the centres.

Gloucester coach Bryan Redpath told BBC Gloucestershire:
“Last weekend was embarrassing and there has to be some kind of reaction to that result as there’s only been two games out of 31 we not got points from.

“We concentrate on Newcastle, that’s all I’m interested in. I’m not interested in six games to go and I’m not interested in top four.

“I can handle defeat, I can handle losing but it’s the manner of how you do it and we’ll concentrate on what we can do.”

Gloucester: Burns; May, Molenaar, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Voyce; Robinson, R Lawson; Wood, Azam, Doran-Jones; Hamilton, Brown; Strokosch, Qera, Narraway (capt).

Replacements: S Lawson, Dickinson, Harden, Attwood, Deacon, Pasqualin, Taylor, Trinder.

Newcastle: Tait; Tu’ipulotu, Vickerman, Eves, Sheriffe; Gopperth, Young; Shiells, Vickers, Murray; Hudson, Swinson; Wilson, Welch, Hogg.

Replacements: Thompson, Hall, Brookes, Townson, Gray, Pilgrim, Fitzpatrick, Catterick.