Confidence boost will be massive from Exeter win
AS the old saying goes, ‘you can only beat what is in front of you.’ Gloucester bagged five points against the mighty Exeter Chiefs, who selected a second string side, but with the depth they have in their squad they still had a very nice blend of youth and experience.
Gloucester left it late to gain the bonus point in the 80th minute after they looked to have picked their strongest side of the season, with Jonny May and Louis Rees-zammit returning from international duty and both looking confident.
May saw plenty of the ball and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, while LRZ came into the game, particularly in the second period, with glimpses of that blistering pace.
Gloucester entered the game as favourites despite playing the side sitting second in the table, a tag that at times is a burden. But the victory will be an injection of confidence for the team.
At times, Gloucester played some fluid rugby coupled with a potent driving line-out.
Hooker Henry Walker scored a brace of tries after being patient at the back of the line-out drive, and crucially he stayed in the drive, meaning he was protected by his players in front of him.
He could have scored a hat trick, but his patience ran out and he came out of the maul too early and was held up.
A harsh lesson to learn but none the less learned, I hope. With Worcester Warriors’ season seemingly in freefall, after getting a hammering against Northampton Saints,
they are now rooted
to the bottom of the league, with Gloucester opening a seven-point gap, and above them six points off Wasps, who sit in ninth.
Some supporters may say it makes no difference as there is no relegation.
It does matter as it shows progression and, most importantly, momentum. If the upward trend continues in the last seven games of the season, the whole club will feel in a much better place, and it will be measured as a turning point of the George Skivington era.
With La Rochelle up next in the European Champions Cup, the French side will be travelling with a degree of confidence whilst they sit second to Toulouse in French Top 14.
When you play a French side you must start big and get the points on the board early, putting the self-doubt demons into the ‘les Rochelaises.’