Gloucester v Biarritz: Teams

At Kingsholm, Saturday October 11, live on SS2 & HD2 from 5.30pm

Ryan Lamb has been handed the fly-half shirt for Gloucester's Heineken Cup opener against Biarritz at Kingsholm on Saturday.

He will form a half-back partnership with Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper as head coach Dean Ryan names his strongest possible line-up for the visit of the French side.

Outside Lamb, Olly Barkley will form a midfield partnership with captain Mike Tindall, while Ryan names his in-form back three of James Simpson-Daniel, who has 17 Heineken Cup tries in 25 games, Iain Balshaw and full-back Olly Morgan.

There are also changes to his forward pack. Carlos Nieto returns at tight-head for the first time since Gloucester's Guinness Premiership victory over Harlequins in September after recovering from a strain in the lower part of his back.

"This competition has the best players in the world playing in it and some of the pool games and then the progression games are enormous - Saturday is no exception," Ryan said.

"Biarritz have a lot of experience, they have contested semi-finals and finals and their squad is there to be seen but it is up to us to get off to a good start at home against them.

Progressing

"The challenges in the Heineken Cup are obvious but we want to hold onto key characteristics that make our game a threat. We have been progressing that way over the last few weeks and it is vital we take that forward on Saturday."

Biarritz, who have been tipped by many to win this pool, field a side full of international class.

USA wing Takudzwa Ngwenya is selected, with the ever-reliable Damien Traille restored at centre - having been used by both club and country at fly-half over the past two seasons.

England cap Magnus Lund adds a steely edge to the back row, whilst Jerome Thion captains the side from the second row.

Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Iain Balshaw, 13 Mike Tindall (c), 12 Olly Barkley, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Jack Forster, 18 Adam Eustace, 19 Andy Hazell, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Lesley Vainikolo.

Biarritz: 15 Benjamin Thiery, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Romain Cabannes, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, 10 Julien Peyrelongue, 9 Fabien Cibray, 8 Jacques Cronje, 7 Samiu Vahafolau, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 David Couzinet, 4 Jerome Thion (c), 3 Mosese Moala, 2 Benoit August, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Benoit Bourrust, 17 Eduard Coetzee, 18 Manuel Carizza, 19 Peio Som, 20 Laurent Tranier, 21 Andrea Masi, 22 Philippe Bidabe.