Ackermann’s acumen for attack rubbing off
THAT 57-10 thrashing at the hands of Sale seems a long time ago now.
Four successive Premiership victories, including one over European champions Saracens, is the Gloucester résumé for October and November.
Friday’s win, however, was arguably the most impressive. Against a side that have been much improved in 2017/18, this makeshift Cherry and Whites outfit – one that still contains a lengthy injury list – were convincing in their Falcons dissection.
Defensively they were outstanding, fending off a wave of Newcastle attacks in the second period, but it is at the opposite end of the field where Johan Ackermann teams like to thrive and four tries was just reward for their creativity and intelligence.
With that attitude seemingly starting to take effect in the dressing room, the West Countrymen may just find their way back to the higher echelons of the English game by the end of this season.
“It’s the constant growth of the players and the self- belief that they can play at this level,” Ackermann, Gloucester’s head coach, said. “We want to play with that no-fear mentality and I think that the guys have really bought into that.
“It’s getting there but we’ve still got to improve on a lot of areas. I joined late so a lot of the things we’re trying to correct we’ve done in-season and the players have worked extremely hard.”
As one team rises, another has to fall, and Newcastle have dropped dramatically from the heady heights they set earlier this year. While the patterns are the same and the intensity in most facets remains, there is simply a lack of incisiveness and direction.
Certainly in the early stages, the hosts went more side-to-side than they did over the gainline, something that has been all too common over their recent Premiership outings.
Dean Richards’ men were not alone in finding the opposition rearguard an especially obstinate vehicle to breach in the opening 15 minutes but, unlike the Falcons, Gloucester had the wherewithal to suss out the Tynesiders’ weak points.
Willi Heinz and Billy Burns were quite magnificent in that regard. Whether it was bringing their backs into the fold from first phase ball or creating opportunities with intelligent chip-kicks behind the defence, the visitors had the answers.
It was a performance which had all the hallmarks of an Ackermann team and the Cherry and Whites thoroughly deserved the 19-0 lead via three excellently taken tries.
Andy Symons touched down for the first, latching onto Heinz’s pass after Henry Purdy had initially punched through, before Jeremy Thrush crossed for the second.
Thrush’s effort was particularly poor from the home side’s perspective, with the New Zealander able to power his way to the line following a simple lineout move, but it was an incident that provided a microcosm of the Falcons’ issues.
Purdy, who had been exceptional in the first half, was the next to go over, kicking ahead twice and recollecting for a superb individual try. Mark Wilson did respond for Richards’ side on the stroke of halftime but Billy Twelvetrees’ penalty reasserted control.
Although Newcastle improved slightly in the second period, with their pressure leading to a yellow card for Twelvetrees, Gloucester resisted their barrage and secured the bonus point through Gareth Denman.