Ryan ready to enter ‘confrontational environment’

GLOUCESTER boss Dean Ryan accepts his team will head into “a confrontational environment” when they tackle Heineken Cup hosts Bourgoin tonight.

The Guinness Premiership leaders, courtesy of successive victories over Ulster and the Ospreys, are currently four points clear in Pool Two. And victory at Stade Pierre Rajon – a ground where Gloucester beat Bourgoin 37-18 during the 2003/2004 Heineken Cup – would strengthen their quarter-final claims.

Ryan said: “We are heading for a confrontational environment. It is an environment in which Bourgoin have a good record, and we must be ready to handle that.”

Bourgoin will arrive at Kingsholm for the return fixture on Saturday week, and Ryan added: “The pool is very much still alive, which is why these two back-to-back games are so important.

“Preparation has been good, and we have learned a great deal over the last year or so in this competition about how to win games like this.”

Gloucester will travel without rugby league import Lesley Vainikolo, who has returned to New Zealand for a week because of a family bereavement.

In Vainikolo’s absence, Iain Balshaw moves to the wing, with Olly Morgan starting at full-back, while lock Peter Buxton skippers a side denied the services of injured forwards Marco Bortolami (calf) and Andy Hazell (twisted knee).

Bourgoin: A Forest; D Janin, R Coetzee, S Laloo, M Nicolas; B Boyet, M Parra; K Wihongi, B Cabello, P Cardinali, J Pierre (capt), D Fevre, J Frier, M Rennie, W Jooste.

Replacements: J Genevois, O Sourgens, C Wyatt, S Nicolas, M Forest, M Viazzo, J Coux.

Gloucester: O Morgan; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall, A Allen, I Balshaw; R Lamb, R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, P Buxton (capt), A Brown, A Strokosch, A Qera, G Delve.

Replacements: A Titterrell, C Califano, W James, L Narraway, G Cooper, C Paterson, L Lloyd.

Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).