King is keen to put on show for the fans

GLOUCESTER Rugby are looking to put on a show for their returning home fans this weekend but are weary of the threat their visitors Harlequins pose.

After a one sided defeat to Exeter Chiefs in the opening game, Quins exploded into life as they beat Northampton Saints 49-29 away at Franklin’s Gardens with some scintillating running rugby.

Meanwhile the Cherry and Whites opened up last season’s beaten Premiership finalists Wasps to score five tries in front of the empty stands at Kingsholm in an impressive 40-24 victory.

So much for all this talk of rugby turning dull.

On Sunday the two most impressive attacking sides from last weekend will go head-tohead in front of 2,000 fans as the lockdown restrictions are eased and Gloucester moves into Tier 2 in the government’s new pandemic restrictions.

Gloucester attack coach Alex King, pictured, said his players understand they have a responsibility to put in a display to help lift the spirits of the club’s fans - in many ways that is the very essence of what makes sport so central in

British society.

He said: “It is great to have fans back. Kingsholm is synonymous with its passionate crowd and even though there are only going to be 2,000 of them I am sure they will make the noise of 18,000.

“I am looking forward to the Gloucester cry and the Gloucester cheer and it is important we put on a performance for them because it hasn’t been easy for anyone the last nine months

It has been pretty tough for everyone whether you are working in the industry or people being ill; we are all looking forward to seeing the back of 2020 and hopefully 2021 will bring a new lease of life for everyone in the country.

“For the 2,000 fans who get to come in we want to make them proud of Gloucester Rugby and the performance we put in.”

Gloucester and Harlequins are locked side by side in the early league table in seventh and eighth respectively having each won once. A victory for either side will see them sitting pretty heading into back-toback European Heineken Champions Cup games after this.

King said: “We understand the challenge Quins bring, they had a superb win at Saints last week - to score 49 points away from home is a pretty good achievement and they will be riding high.

“Their big players are playing well for them down the spine of their team.

“Every week this league throws us a new tactical challenge and the boys are looking forward to it.”

Amongst the stand out performers within the Quins ranks is mercurial fly-half Marcus Smith who is developing into one of the most dangerous playmakers in the game.

Former fly-half King said: “He is a player who thrives on the opportunities which present themselves in the games. He has a turn of speed, he has a chip game, good passing game and he has a good relationship with Danny Care at scrum half.

“That axis of Smith, Care, [Alex] Dombrandt, [Mike] Brown has been really, really strong for them.

“They will be highly motivated going into the European break but so are we.”