Gloucester v Bordeaux-Begles: Sunday's team news

Tonga international Sione Kalamafoni returns after injury to boost the Gloucester pack in their European Champions Cup play-off against Bordeaux-Begles at Sixways on Sunday.

Kalamafoni's selection, his first since limping off against Newcastle just over a month ago, is one of just two changes to the Gloucester starting line-up from the one that defeated Connacht last Sunday.

He will start at blindside flanker, with Jacob Rowan moving across to openside and Dan Thomas dropping to the bench for a game that will decide a place in the sport's top team competition. The losers drop into the Challenge Cup.

In the backs, Rob Cook will start at full-back having been a replacement against Connacht, while Charlie Sharples will move to the wing to accommodate him and Henry Purdy is named amongst the replacements.

Mariano Galarza is out of the tie after he underwent shoulder surgery and Matt Kvesic is still banned following a tip-tackle on London Irish scrum-half Tomas O'Leary.

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Gloucester's Jonny May said: "I played against Bordeaux a couple of seasons ago and we managed to win those games. They're a big old team and it is going to be a fast, tough, physical game.

"Hopefully if we go out there with the same energy and intent as we did against Connacht, and match it with some top end skill, we can better the performance against Connacht."

Bordeaux coach Raphael Ibanez added: "I think the team is a work in progress. Many others would like to be in our place. The defeat on the weekend was unbearable but the sport is to project forward and we have a chance to do that in this match."

Gloucester: Cook; Sharples, Meakes, Twelvetrees (capt), May; Hook, Laidlaw; Wood, Hibbard, Afoa; Savage, Palmer; Kalamafoni, Rowan, Moriarty.

Replacements: Dawidiuk, Thomas, Knight, Stooke, Thomas, Robson, Burns, Purdy.

Bordeaux-Begles: Guitone; Talebulamaijaina, Le Bourhis, Rey, Connor; Bernard, Adams; Poirot, Avei, Toetu, Marais, Botha, Madaule (capt), Chalmers, Saili.

Replacements: Maynadier, Poux, Gomez Kodela, Jaulhac, Clarkin, Lesgourgues, Beauxis, Serin.

Watch the European Champions Cup play-off final live on Sky Sports 3 - coverage from Sixways starts at 4:45pm.