Cherry andWhites make it a black day
GLOUCESTER have mixed news on the injury front ahead of their huge European Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Cardiff Blues at Kingsholm on Saturday night.
In the debit column is having the in-form centre pairing on Andy Symons and Matt Scott sidelined for the rest of the season with a fractured ankle and torn hamstring respectively.
It leaves the Aviva Premiership club woefully short of midfield options with the Blues game possibly coming too early for another of their injured centres, Mark Atkinson, making it in time after the best part of three months out.
But in the credit column is the timely return of Wales back-rower Ross Moriarty from hurting his shoulder while playing for Wales in the 100-minute match against France, which caused him to sit out last weekend’s west country derby win over Bristol at Ashton Gate.
“With the long week that we’ve had in preparation for the game it gives him an opportunity to get back fit so we will make a decision on him later in the week,” said Gloucester’s director of rugby David Humphreys.
“At this stage of the season you’re going to have a lot of players carrying niggles, it’s a case of managing them through the week and trying to get enough training done to prepare them for the weekend.
“Some of those players who have knocks are training this week and we’ll see this week if this game is too early for them from a selection point of view.”
So who can the Blues expect to line up against on Saturday night?
We pick out seven potential dangermen Danny Wilson’s side will have to be wary of .... DAVID HALAIFONUA The 21-times capped Tongan torpedo is 6ft 2in and 16-and-a-half stone of South Sea Island beefcake who played for Sri Lankan champions Kandy SC before moving to Kingsholm for the start of the 2014-15 season.
Will be assessed before being unleashed on the Blues after picking up a dead leg in Bristol last Friday night in the 32-14 Aviva Premiership victory over their west country rivals. ROSS MORIARTY One of the few Welsh success stories of the Six Nations Championship when his barnstorming performance against England was etched into Principality Stadium folklore.
He was so good former Dragons No.8 Taulupe Faletau was relegated to bench duty and cameo roles this tournament on his return from knee problems with his new employers Bath.
Moriarty is back in the selection mix having missed the Bristol win with a shoulder problem picked up in Wales’ 100-minute marathon with France in Paris. JONNY MAY Fleet-footed, jet propelled and a silky smooth a runner as you’re likely to see in the Aviva Premiership.
But the 25-times capped England international is no longer a regular Test starter under Red Rose coach Eddie Jones with the emergence of Elliot Daly and the claims of Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell for the wing berths.
His speed and eye for the smallest of gaps makes the 26-year-old a dangerous customer. JOHN AFOA The 36-times former All Blacks prop is showing no signs of letting up in a career that taken the 33-year-old from Auckland to Munster, Ulster and now Kingsholm.
Established himself as one of the premier tightheads in European rugby when packing down in the Ulster back-row and puts in a solid shift in the loose.
Back for the Blues game after serving a one week suspension for a dangerous tackle of Harlequins’Tim Swiel in their Aviva Premiership match earlier this month.
It’s reported Afoa has been working overtime to make sure he’s ready to return for a potential battle with Gethin Jenkins against Cardiff Blues. RICHARD HIBBARD The blond bombshell is back to his explosive best that brought 41 Welsh caps and three appearances on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.
His form for the Cherry & Whites in recent months has seen a growing band of supporters calling for his inclusion for Warren Gatland’s 2017 Lions squad heading to New Zealand this summer despite being in the international wilderness since August 2015. Maybe the sight of some Welsh team-mates in the opposition ranks might fire up hooker to even greater heights. JEREMY THRUSH The lock has spent the week talking up Richard Hibbard’s claims to be part of the Lions squad heading to New Zealand this summer and having played 12 times for the All Blacks, they hold plenty of weight.
Provides plenty of shunt and grunt in the Gloucester engine room and gets his name into the Aviva Premiership team of the weekend on more than one occasion. BEN MORGAN The former Scarlets back-rower has fallen out of favour in the England set-up since the emergence of Billy Vunipola and now Nathan Hughes.
But the bullocking No.8 who has been with the Cherry & Whites since moving across from west Wales in 2012 can be a right handful for opposing defences to bring down.
Has played 31 times for England with his last international appearance in the 2015 RWC against Australia.