Kingsholm can be fortress again
Gary Fitzgerald talks to Gloucester coach Dom Waldouck about the return of crowds
DOM Waldouck claims a ‘rocking and rolling Kingsholm’ can assist Gloucester in the bid to finish at the right end of the table this season.
But the defence coach insists the famous old rugby ground will only be back to its deafening best as long as the team are providing the excitement and energy on the field.
Only Worcester finished below them back in June despite the Cherry and Whites producing a strong and consistent run of results which took them level on points with next placed Newcastle Falcons.
They face a tough opening trip to Franklin’s Gardens next Saturday but former England centre Waldouck, right, insists: “We are in a good place and will find out how good when we get to Northampton. We have had a very competitive four weeks pre-season and the guys can’t wait to get back out onto the field.
“But it is the home crowds who will be a huge asset for us now that they are back to make such a fantastic noise. It will be so exciting to see the old ground rocking and rolling again.
“Even at our warm-up game with Ealing recently Kingsholm was absolutely pumping with a party atmosphere. You could really feel the shifts in momentum when things were going our way. They are like the
16th man so it is definitely a bonus.”
While Gloucester are determined to prove they are well set to climb the table into a more respectable position, Waldouck admits it will be even tougher this time round.
And he says a fast start is essential. “It is the strongest club competition in the world and it has got even stronger with Saracens making it a 13-team league. No doubt they will be challenging again for the title. “It is essential you start with some momentum because things can quickly get away from you. “Hopefully, we can start with a bang at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday and build from there.
“It’s always natural to see a lull, as we did last season, when a whole new coaching system comes in and things have to start afresh for everybody.
“But we saw at the back of last season all the hard work and effort come to fruition with some very good performances and results.
We were disappointed the season finished when it did because we had won six of the last eight games. That is top four form!
“In terms of tracking it is about starting this season where we finished off. We’ve had a great period of deep understanding of what we are trying to do and executing it well.”
One man itching to make an instant impact for the Cherry and Whites is new Russian prop Kirill Gotovtsev who says: “I always dreamed of playing in a professional league and now I want to show the Gloucester people what I can do on a field.
“When I put it to my family Gloucester wanted me they were happy to give up everything and come and live the dream and have an adventure.
“I was a wrestler for 15 years but I’m glad I chose rugby because it was a great honour to represent my country in the 2019 World Cup and now it is the same to represent Gloucester here in England.”
“The ground was absolutely pumping at our warm-up game with Ealing”
Williams joined the club from Chinnor days before lockdown and hasn’t taken charge of a league match yet, in his 18 months in charge, after Scottish decided to sit out last season.
That will change when the Exiles, led by captain Brian Tuilagi, welcome Jersey Reds to the Royal Athletic Ground on Saturday September 18.
“I’m excited by the challenge that faces London Scottish.
“We’ve got the smallest budget in the league and we are playing catch-up every week because everyone has had ten games and used it as a long preseason leading into a full season, On paper, everything is stacked against us,” he said.
“Pre-season has gone well and we are excited about upsetting the apple cart.
“What we are going to bring to the party is super-physicality, a great setpiece and a few surprises along the way.
“I relish the fact everyone is writing us off as cannon fodder. That is only motivating myself and the lads more.
We won’t be cannon fodder.”
Scottish’s chances of sticking one to the naysayers haven’t been helped by some untimely injuries.
“To add to the underdog (label), we have had a handful of tough injuries, and all of them seemed, on face value, fairly innocuous,” Williams mentioned.
“Poor Josh (Drauniniu) jumped for a ball against Richmond last week and landed awkwardly and is having a knee op this week.
“Charlie Ingall, against Ebbw, took a tackle, nothing more than a generic tackle, and fractured his leg, and Morgan Dawes, who I am very excited about, and I brought out of the National Leagues, fractured his jaw in the first game.
“So we’ve had some pretty tough luck but I am not one to dwell on issues and we will make sure come game one against Jersey at home, we will more than give a good account themselves.”