100-up for Waller as much-changed Saints gear up for Gloucester visit

BIG DAY - Alex Waller makes his 100th appearance for Saints when they take on Gloucester on Saturday (Picture: Linda Dawson)

The 23-year-old loosehead prop made his debut in the LV= Cup trip to the Ospreys four years ago, and he lines up in a team that shows 11 changes from that which won in the Aviva Premiership at London Irish last Sunday.

Former Otago duo Glenn Dickson and Rob Verbakel both make their senior bows, as does Senior Academy wing Howard Packman, who follows in the footsteps of his father, Frank, in playing for the Saints first team.

Packman comes in for Tom Collins, who picked up a knock in the game at the Madejski Stadium.

Meanwhile there is a first start for scrum-half Ryan Glynn, while half-a-dozen other players make their first starts of the season.

There are four more potential debutants on the bench – senior Academy trio Matt Williams, Alex Day and Sam Olver, and lock Alex Woolford, who is on loan from Moseley for the weekend.

Centre Dom Waldouck will captain the team for the first time.

Saturday’s game will be preceded by the annual Remembrance ceremony, which will see players and supporters alike pay their respects while wreaths of poppies are laid on the Gardens war memorial.

Saints team v Gloucester, LV= Cup Round 1, Franklin’s Gardens, Saturday, November 9, 2013, 5pm: James Wilson; Ken Pisi, Tom Stephenson, Dom Waldouck, Howard Packmam; Glenn Dickson, Ryan Glynn; Alex Waller, Mike Haywood, Tom Mercey, Rob Verbakel, James Craig, Ben Nutley, Teimana Harrison, GJ van Velze.

Replacements: Ross McMillan, Ethan Waller, Gareth Denman, Alex Woolford, Matt Williams, Alex Day, Sam Olver, Vasily Artemyev