Blooding kids has been key to revival - Savage

JOHAN Ackermann’s determination to blood fresh talent is inspiring Gloucester’s charge for a first Premiership title, says stalwart lock Tom Savage.

Beaten finalists in 2003 and 2007, Gloucester have the look of potential champions after a startling revival under their South African head coach.

Savage puts that down to a fit squad, which is boosting competition, and the emergence of a host of previously little known names headed by Ben Vellacott and Jake Polledri, who are pushing for Test honours with England and Italy respectively. Savage, 28, told

Rugby Paper: “You never quite know what you’re getting with a new coach but Johan said at the start that it didn’t matter what you’d done previously or your experience, he would back boys who go out and perform well.

“When you see young back row boys like Ruan Ackermann, Freddie Clarke, Jake Polledri and Lewis Ludlow making a mark you’ve really got to pinch yourself – and it’s the same amongst the backs with guys like Ben Vellacott and Ollie Thorley.

“They’ve helped form good, strong units across the park and that gives more experienced guys like me a shot in the arm to go out and play good rugby.”

With Gloucester largely injury-free approaching the homeward stretch, Savage added: “Competition for places is very strong now.

“Johan’s been great at binding everyone together and if you want to push for silverware you need buy-in from everyone – not just the matchday 23. All the boys have been putting it in in training and a lot of our performances have been down to how well they’ve prepped us.”

Ackermann led the Lions to Super Rugby finals in the last two seasons, losing on each occasion.

Savage is backing his boss go one better, explaining: “We’re in the middle of a crucial four-game block and if we can come through with more wins than losses, we’ll be in a really good place to drive on towards silverware.”