The argument about the best candidate to play inside-centre for England in the upcoming autumn Tests turned full circle at the weekend with Billy Twelvetrees suggesting he still has the credentials to fit the bill.

With Stuart Lancaster due to announce on Wednesday his squad to face Australia, Argentina and then the All Blacks, Twelvetrees seized the moment and the discomfort of others to show the head coach he has the creative talents Lancaster says he is seeking.

While Luther Burrell was throwing intercept passes in Castres and Freddie Burns was tucked up in his sick bed, the England inside-centre of choice in the summer, until called up by the Lions, was keeping Gloucester's show on the road and their Heineken ambitions alive, orchestrating events as their stand-in fly-half.

Gloucester's tepid start to the season has done nothing for the Test ambitions of Ben Morgan, Matt Kvesic and Burns, but 17 points and a calming performance from Twelvetrees when James Hook was threatening to steal the show for Perpignan cannot fail to catch Lancaster's eye. A winning try only six minutes from time from Jonny May might also help the wing's elevation from the Saxons squad.

"If I'm not playing well for Gloucester, nothing else matters," said Twelvetrees after steering his side through the rain and out of the gloom of last week when they were bullied to defeat by Exeter. "I came here to establish myself playing week in and week out, and whatever accolades might come are a bonus.

"It's nice to be talked about in an England frame, but first and foremost it's about playing here. It's a result-lead business so if we play well everything follows from that."

If that sounds like a man who is not taking anything for granted it is understandable. Not only were Gloucester having a poor run, but things got worse for their much-vaunted back line when another England candidate, Henry Trinder damaged himself even before Burns pulled out with a stomach bug. It left a centre pairing of Mike Tindall, never the quickest despite his 75 England caps, and Ryan Mills, playing his first game of the season.

Add a huge Perpignan pack, Gloucester's previous frailties at the set piece and a peerless performance from Hook, which was worth all 22 of his side's points, and there were times when Twelvetrees' boot was all that kept Gloucester in the game.

"I'm not wholly happy with my game at the moment, there's always improvements to make, but it's about being consistent," said Twelvetrees who, if director of rugby Nigel Davies is true to his word, is unlikely to start in next Saturday's second round against Munster.

"We've done the first thing and secured a first home win, which was absolutely fundamental to what we needed to do if we want to progress in this tournament, and now we can have a shot at Munster," said Davies, who intends rotating his squad despite being at Thomond Park, one of Gloucester's least-loved grounds and against a Heineken heavyweight smarting from Saturday's defeat by Edinburgh.

"We know what to expect," added Davies, who took Gloucester to Limerick pre-season to reduce the "wow" factor of playing in front of 26,000 at one of the great Irish stadiums. "I watched some of the Edinburgh-Munster game – it has certainly opened the pool up. I would imagine the pressure is pretty much on Munster to get a result," said Davies, once a Wales coach and keenly aware that Hook has not started in a Test since the 2011 World Cup.

"James is a fantastic player, real quality. He is a danger every time he is on the ball. He makes good decisions and you can't take your eyes off him," Davies said. "There is a particular philosophy the Wales team go with, which is based around power and not making too many errors. Hooky probably does not quite fit that profile, but for me he is a real class act. I would want him in my team every time."

Gloucester Cook; May, Tindall, Mills, Simpson-Daniel;

Twelvetrees, Cowan (Robson, 62); Thomas, Edmonds (George, 55), Knight (Murphy, 22), Stooke, Hudson, Savage (capt), Kvesic (Evans, 63) , Kalafamoni (Qera, 63).

Tries Cowan, May. Con Twelvetrees. Pens Twelvetrees 5. Sin-bin Kvesic 52.

Perpignan Hook; Mjekevu (Duvenage, 50), Benvenuti (Marty, 56), Mafi, Guitoune; Lopez (Marty, 56), Durand (Michel, 53); S Taofifenua (Pulu, 56), Guirado (capt; Terrain, 63), Ion (Jgenti, ht), R Taofifenua, Leo (Charteris, 63), Purll, Strokosch, Narraway (Perez, 67).

Tries Hook. Con Hook. Pens Hook 4. Drop goal Hook.

Sin-bin Durand 42. Red card Mafi 74.

Referee Leighton Hodges (Wales). Attendance 11,937.