No excuses as Skivington is left confused after a flat performance
GLOUCESTER head coach George Skivington offered no excuses after his team fell to a 28-15 defeat against Gallagher Premiership rivals Harlequins at Kingsholm.
The mid-table clash saw 1,000 spectators attend - including British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland - in a second crowd pilot venture following Quins’ game against Bath at the Twickenham Stoop earlier this month.
But some of the Gloucester faithful might have wished they had stayed away as their team delivered an errorstrewn display.
“I am bit confused. Flat is probably the word,” Skivington said.
“We were excited coming into the game, and we put ourselves in positions to score about five tries, but we just dropped a few balls at the final hurdle. It was a lack of execution.
“Quins were very clinical in their approach and rightly won the game.
“If a crowd of 1,000 can make that noise, it will be great to see the place full. I am disappointed that we couldn’t deliver a victory for them.
“I felt the boys stayed in the game and kept trying, but we dropped the ball at the crucial moments.
“We weren’t good enough, and need to sit down and try to solve it.”
Gloucester suffered an acute case of stage-fright, with fly-half Danny Cipriani gifting Quins their opening try, blowing a score for Jonny May with a forward pass, then throwing an interception pass that led to Quins’ matchclinching third try.
Quins, though, never looked back following first-half tries by wing Cadan Murley and skipper Stephan Lewies as they consolidated sixth place in the table.
Impressive fly-half Marcus Smith kicked 13 points, while substitute scrum-half Scott Steele added a third try, with Gloucester replying through touchdowns from Jake Polledri and and Matias Alemanno, plus a Cipriani
Ipenalty and conversion.
The watching British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland, watching high in the stands at Kingsholm, may have been be wishing Gloucester’s Bristol-born Italian international number eight Polledri was eligible for selection come the summer when his famous touring side head to South Africa.
Polledri had another colossal game in a losing effort - but sadly none of Gloucester’s glittering big names in the backline - Cipriani, May, Ollie Thorley or Louis Rees-zammit - shone as they played helter-skelter rugby which was as much a danger to their side as the opposition.
Gloucester repeatedly failed to capitalise on their pressure and territory.
Twice the hosts blew golden chances to score tries before the break, the first when winger Thorley dropped a routine pass with the line begging in front of him and the second when Cipriani threw a completely unnecessary forward pass to May with at least two men free on the overlap.
Harlequins in contrast came away with points from almost every visit to the Cherry and Whites half. The visitors raced to a 9-0 lead from the boot of Marcus Smith as Gloucester’s glittering back three struggled to deal with the highball as Danny Care repeatedly put up inch perfect competable box kicks for his team mates to chase.
The game remained loose and unstructured throughout and Gloucester were taking risks from anywhere on the pitch and in the 15th minute they were punished for it with Cipriani’s attempted low stab through kick getting blocked and gathered by Quins who fed Cadan Murphy on the wing to race in.
Having held out to not concede a point with Joe Gray in the sin bin, Harlequins silenced the 1,000 Gloucester fans with two intercept tries either side of the break.
First Harlequins’ second row captain Stephen Lewies intercepted a pass from Stephen Varney on half way and had the legs to race in before replacement scrum half Scott Steele finished off a counter attacking move led by Joe Marchant who plucked a Cipriani pass out the air and raced 60m before being brought down just short of the line, but not before he got the offload away.
That blunted Gloucester’s comeback 14. Alex Morgan - 6
A quiet game after being a late replacement to the side. Consistent in defence, not missing a tackle.
13. Henry Trinder - 6
Trinder’s contribution in attack was limited but was solid in defence not missing a tackle.
12. Tom Seabrook - 5
Almost anonymous in attack, and missed tackles in defence but flashes of great handling.
11. Matt Banahan - 8
Took his first try well while still having a lot to do but missed a tackle on Stuart Hogg in the build-up to the home side’s bonus attempts despite tries from Polledri and debutant Alemanno who both powered over from close range.
The only player who could remotely have a chance of being on the plane to South Africa in the summer on Monday’s evidence is young Quins fly-half Marcus Smith who continues to develop brilliantly and finished with 13 points at Kingsholm to send the fans home disappointed. point try. Restored some pride in the performance crossing for a second try.
10. Billy Twelvetrees - 7
Inconsistent performance by his usually solid standards. Strong in the tackle but his kicking was sloppy with cross-field kicks and kicks to touch failing to find hand or touch numerous tries.
9. Charlie Chapman - 6
Occasionally sloppy at the base of the ruck when in a good position and missed a few tackles. Pacy in attack, upping the tempo during his 55 minutes on the pitch and a sniping threat down the blindside.
8. Ruan Ackermann - 6
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Quiet in defence making just four tackles and a few notable carries in attack. Head coach George Skivington said it was the South African’s best game since he has been in charge.
7. Jordy Reid - 8
The Australian looks like he could be the signing of the summer. Brilliant in defence making a number of big hits as well as being everywhere in the defensive line.
6. Josh Gray - 7
Grew into the game in defence and showed some excellent ability to score Gloucester’s third try.
5. Danny Drake - 7
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