GLOUCESTER
It’s worth considering whether the unconditional support from fans at Kingsholm has had the comfort-zone effect of turning Gloucester into serial also-rans.
That seems to be the only plausible explanation as to why a side stacked with ability has failed to deliver on a regular basis for almost a decade, including last season.
They under-clubbed again despite having a pack featuring two All Blacks at prop and lock (John Afoa and Jeremy Thrush), a Lions hooker (Richard Hibbard), a Pumas lock (Mario Galarza), an England No.8 (Ben Morgan), a Wales flanker (Ross Moriarty), and a Tongan Test back rower (Sione Kalamafoni).
Instead, it seemed to be left to the best ball-winner in the Premiership, openside Matt Kvesic, to dig them out of tight corners.
That probably explains why head coach Laurie Fisher has bolstered the tight-five with two Kiwi imports, tighthead Josh Hohneck and hooker Motu Matu’u.
If Gloucester find a fix up front then there is no reason why a backline set in motion by Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw should fail to fire, especially with Jonny May up and running again.
Rob Cook’s incursions from full-back will be missed, but that can be offset by a midfield solution which puts Billy Burns at fly-half.