Ackermann’s sights set on silverware

– Gloucester coach Johan Ackermann (right) can bag his first piece of silverware at the English club tonight when they meet Cardiff in the final of the European Challenge Cup at the San Mames Stadium.

Ackermann’s first season in charge saw Gloucester strongly in contention for the the playoffs for a large part of the English Premiership season, but the challenge faded towards the end of their campaign. They eventually finished seventh after winning 11 from their 22 matches.

“If the players are as excited as I am hopefully it will go well,” said Ackermann, who is hoping to make it third time lucky after having tasted defeat in the previous two Super Rugby finals with the Lions.

“I told the players, again it’s not

Bilbao

about me, it’s about them and it’s about Gloucester but the disappointment of the last two years of losing in finals I just want to be on the right side of the result.”

Gloucester have won Europe’s second-tier competition twice since its inception in 1996, with their last win coming three seasons ago. They did however, lose last season’s final against Stade Francais.

“It’s not a lot of times you get the opportunity to be involved in finals, so I just want to embrace it and enjoy it again and it’s a privilege to be part of a team again that’s playing in a final,” said Ackermann.

Former Springbok coach Jake White guided Montpellier to the Challenge Cup title two seasons ago by beating Harlequins in the final. –