Ackermann revels in ‘special’ victory
head coach Johan Ackermann said his side’s 33-28 victory over Connacht in their Challenge Cup quarter-final was “special”, telling his players it was a performance they will remember long after they have retired.
The Aviva Premiership side led 30-18 with 13 minutes to play when their back row Lewis Ludlow was sent to the sin bin.
They then held off a spirited comeback from the hosts to progress to the last four of the European competition and earn a shot at returning to the final after losing last year’s decider to Stade Francais.
First-half tries from James Hanson, Tom Marshall and man-of-thetune Henry Trinder were added to after the break by veteran prop John Afoa on his 100th outing for the Cherry and Whites.
Connacht, who trailed 17-10 at half-time and twice fought back to a two-point deficit in the second half, also ran in four tries through returning Ireland internationals Bundee Aki, Kieran Marmion, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy.
Gloucester will host Premiership rivals Newcastle at Kingsholm in their semi-final in three weeks’ time, and Ackermann was delighted.
“It was special,” he told Glouecster TV. “There were some special games this season, but it is a special weekend for us.
“I said to them in the changing room, ‘You don’t realise when you play the game – you think it’s just another game – but one day when you are retired you will look back at this game and it will be one of those where we came here and beat a very good team’.”
Newcastle’s terrific season continued as they beat Brive 25-10 at Kingston Park, while Pau beat Stade Francais 35-32 on Friday night.