Gloucester seek to push towards the play-offs against the wounded Bristol Bears

Gloucester travel to the Ashton Gate Stadium to face Bristol Bears on Friday evening as they look to edge closer to the play-off spots against their struggling hosts.

The Cherry and Whites sit in seventh spot in the Gallagher Premiership just seven points behind the Exeter Chiefs who occupy the last play-off position, having played two games less than their rivals.

Gloucester travel to familiar surroundings and face familiar opponents in the Bristol Bears who they convincingly defeated 43-15 just three weeks ago to advance into the semi-finals of the Premiership Rugby Cup.

However, this time around, the Bears will be without several star players due to injury. Winger Semi Radradra has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing his second knee surgery in the past year.

Joining him on the sidelines due to another knee operation is Silva Naulago and loanee Rich Lane is ruled out through a broken foot, while England prop Kyle Sinckler and full-back Charles Piutau also miss out through injuries.

The Bears’ Director of Rugby Pat Lam explained the reasoning behind the omissions by saying:

“Unfortunately Semi’s having knee surgery this week, so that’s the season ended for him, which gives him a good chance to rehab, recoup and be ready for the start of next season. That will be a positive for him.

“Kyle has had a niggle since the Six Nations so again he’ll take a bit of time now to try and clear around his back and we’ll work closely with England and the medical team with that one.

“Siva [Naulago] has gone in for surgery, has had his surgery, the rest are niggles.

“Charles [Piutau], unfortunately he trained on Monday but had a slight groin strain so he’s been ruled out this week as well.

“Rich Lane got stood on in the last game, we thought it was just bruising on his foot and then when we saw the scans and it was a clean break it was like man, that’s tough.”

Bristol head into the match in somewhat deceiving bad form due to four tight defeats in their last five matches across all competitions.

The latest of which was a heartbreaking 29-35 defeat to Sale Sharks in the second leg of the Champions Cup quarter-final.

However, Gloucester’s George Skivington has named an unchanged starting 15 from their last match, as he refused to underestimate their opponents, Skivington said:

“We know what a threat Bristol are, they’re a seriously good team regardless of league position or anything like that.

“We know that they’ve got some seriously threatening individuals who can do amazing things.

“They’ve got a strong set piece and a good game, all of their games are tight and their last two weekends could have gone either way.

“They were physical battles and we know that it’s going to be a tough game on Friday.

“We’re fully aware that Friday is a massive challenge for us and we’re excited about it and we’re looking forward to getting there.

“Obviously it’s a big challenge and it’s a really important game for us.”

A victory for the Cherry and Whites could lift them into fifth position with a game in hand over Exeter Chiefs while Bristol are now just playing for pride after a disappointing season sees them sitting in 10th position, 15 points adrift of the Wasps who sit above them.

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