Gloucester aim to make most of surprise chance
GLOUCESTER Rugby are ‘going hard’ for tomorrow night’s European Heineken Champions Cup tie with La Rochelle (8pm) having been given an opportunity in the competition the club did not necessarily expect.
An injury hit and inexperienced Gloucester side suffered a record European defeat against Lyon in the opening round of the pool stages, going down 55-10 in France, but a gritty 38-34 victory over Ulster at Kingsholm the following week meant the the Premiership side were one of the top 16 sides when the group stages were scrapped due to Covid concerns and an extra knockout round was introduced.
Fresh from victory over a second string Exeter Chiefs side last weekend, aided by the return of England winger Jonny May and Wales flyer Louis Rees-Zammit, Cherry and Whites head coach George Skivington is set to throw Scottish international Chris Harris straight into this mix against the Top 14’s second place side.
Skivington said: “We are in it at this point so we are going to go hard for it. We didn’t have a great start with Lyon and then we had a great game at home against Ulster which has put us into this stage of the competition.”
Harris started at outside centre as Scotland recorded an historic away win over France in Paris on Friday night in a rearranged Six Nations game. The 30-year-old put in another strong performance as his reputation continues to grow and looks to have played his way into contention to make the British and Irish Lions tour of South African this summer.
Skivington said: “You’ve got to manage these guys, it’s a big deal playing in the Six Nations and it does take a bit out of you but Chris is hungry and he’s desperate to play. He’s always the first one back in asking to play and he’s available for selection.”
Lock Alex Craig has also returned to the club from Scotland having come off the bench in Paris for his second international cap but he will do well to shift former club captain Ed Slater or Argentine international Matias Alemanno from the four and five shirts at club level with Skivington highlighting the physicality of the La Rochelle pack.
Having been hit by player shortages for most of the 2020/21 season Skivington now has a ‘nice selection corundum’ at scrum half despite Joe Simpson’s continued absence with a broken hand.
Skivington confirmed England international Willi Heinz is not significantly hurt having been withdrawn at half times as a precaution against Exeter on Friday.
He said: “Willi’s okay, he just took a bang on his calf and we thought it was better to get him off rather than try and push through, he’s being managed right now but he’s in a good spot.
“I thought Charlie Chapman was good when he came on, he was controlled but brought some real speed and pace to what we were doing, but as I said it was in a controlled manner which is something he’s been working really hard on and I thought he did a great job. I thought the basics of being a scrum half, his kicking and his passing, were great as well as his moments where he sped the game up and got a try.”
Seven cap Italian international Stephen Varney, still just 19, is also back in contention having been rested last weekend.
Skivington said: “Obviously Steve coming back from Italy is a boost and he’s had a really good campaign for Italy and he’s desperate to get out and play for Gloucester now. It’s a nice corundum for the coaches.”
Skivington also confirmed the likes of Jason Woodward [groin], Kyle Moyle [lower leg] and Jack Singleton [hamstring] are nearing a return to action, but revealed he is hesitant to throw them into such a big game immediately. Skivington said: “Those guys are touch and go.” “They sit on a fine line.”
Tight head prop Jack Stanley missed the win over Exeter with concussion but looks likely to be back in the mix this weekend.
Winger Ollie Thorley is sitting out the fourth and final game of his suspension following a red card for a head clash against Wasps. He will be available for a potential home quarter-final against either Scarlets or Sale Sharks should Gloucester progress.