Work in progress but Tigers’ dominant pack proves too hot for Gloucester to handle
GLOUCESTER suffered a tough 38-15 loss at the hands of Leicester Tigers in Round One of the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season in a reminder the club are still a work in progress.
Tries from James Hanson and Joe Simpson were not enough to counter a dominant display from Leicester’s forward pack and tries from Kobus Van Wyk, Tom Youngs, Richard Wigglesworth and Charlie Clare sealed the victory at Welford Road.
Ill discipline cost Gloucester late on as they were unable to mount a comeback of any nature in a disappointing start to the new campaign.
The Cherry and Whites also suffered another loss in the form of newly appointed club captain Lewis Ludlow who left the field with a nasty looking injury after his head made contact with a Tigers player’s knee.
It was the hosts that set the benchmark early on with two early scores as Gloucester failed to react to what Tigers were doing in front of them.
The first try came after a loose ball out of the scrum which saw Leicester attempt to spread the ball wide. Wigglesworth’s pass sliced open the defence to give Jaco Tuate a simple two on one pass to Van Wyk to score in the corner.
The second was a classic Tigers mauling effort as the Cherry and Whites were unable to cope with the power of the Leicester forwards from close range to see Youngs crash over to give them a 12-0 lead 11 minutes in.
Gloucester made several unforced errors throughout the first half which did not allow the visitors to get a foot hold in the game.
The Cherry and Whites looked to lack match sharpness when going forward with one up runners becoming isolated with limited options and support around them.
Billy Twelvetrees gave hope of getting back in the game with a penalty but minutes later Leicester got their third as they sliced through the Cherry and White defence. A dubious forwardlooking pass wide resulted in its recipient Harry Potter kicking through for Leicester debutant Wigglesworth to score making it 19-3 with 24 minutes gone.
The visitors were lacking that ball carrying presence that the likes of the absent Jake Polledri and Ollie Thorley provide.
With Polledri picking up a nasty knee injury for Italy last weekend, Skivington’s back row selection will need further consideration after Ludlow left the field after his head made contact with the knee of Freddie Stewart.
However, the visitors got an encouraging score before half time after Ruan Ackermann snatched a looping Cipriani pass that allowed Rapava-ruskin space to break into the Tigers 22.
Two offloads back in-field from first Matt Banahan then Rapava-ruskin allowed the returning Hanson to finish smartly in the corner two minutes before half time to make it 22-8.
Skivington’s side came out with impetus in the second half, getting a key quick score.
Flanker Jordy Reid made a great break down the left to give Gloucester good field position.
The ball was then passed to the right to Ludlow’s replacement Freddie Clarke who rode two tackles to give a great offload to Simpson who ran clear.
A series of ill-discipline allowed the boot of Zach Henry to increase the Tigers lead with another three points. Tigers continued to pile pressure on Gloucester as Clarke was sent to the bin for illegally stopping a driving maul. The Cherry and Whites were struggling to get out of their half during this period as the Tigers continued to dictate the flow of the game.
Then with 10 minutes remaining came a moment that would cap the frustration of Gloucester’s trip to Welford Road.
Hooker Hanson stamped his studs into the stomach of Calum Green after the second row was holding onto his leg at the base of the ruck. The match was then shortly capped off with a Tigers’ bonus point try as the Leicester pack drove over from close range with replacement hooker Clare in possession of the ball.
Another penalty, this time from replacement Joaquin Diaz Borzilla on full time confirmed a 38-15 defeat on an afternoon to forget.