Charlie Hynes and John Evely run the rule over Gloucester’s players on a tough night at Ashton Gate
15. Kyle Moyle – 9
THE score would have looked a lot worse had it not been for Moyle. He personally saved 21 points in an outstanding defensive display. The Cornishman was not helped by his side’s defence outside of their 22 as he worked hard at the back. His notable contributions came in defence with two great try-saving tackles as he dislodged the ball firstly from Kyle Sinckler on the line and then Charles Piutau as he looked certain to score. Moyle also did well to beat England flanker Ben Earl in a footrace to dot down a dangerous cross-field kick from Callum Sheedy.
14. Louis Rees-zammit – 5
GOT little to no opportunity with ball in hand but when he did he made 18 metres from five carries, beating the most defenders of any Bristol players with three. However, defensively he struggled at times against Bristol’s powerful runners as he missed four tackles as well as conceding three turnovers. He was made to work hard in defence and covered in behind well, with his Wales team-mate Sheedy looking to kick in behind the Gloucester wingers.
13. Giorgi Kveseladze – 5
THE Georgian had a tough evening against Semi Radradra and had limited success in stopping the Fijian. His attitude and work rate cannot be questioned, with some strong kick chases with good hits, but he didn’t get many opportunities to carry in attack.
12. Mark Atkinson – 6
ONCE again a solid attacking force for Gloucester as he took the ball forwards and created holes and space for those around him as the visitors came out the blocks really well. He also fronted up in defence against the Bears attack.
11. Santiago Carreras – 7
FOR a man of his 5ft 9in stature, the Argentine shows some immense heart. In defence, he took on many of Bristol’s big men, with an exceptional tackle on Nathan Hughes forcing the former England star’s offload to be mistimed and dropped by Charles Piutau. He finished his try excellently as he rode the challenge of Max Malins to keep Gloucester in touch at half time.
10. Billy Twelvetrees – 7
SWINGS and roundabouts for the fly-half as he left everything out on the field for the Cherry and Whites. Defensively he showed good heart despite missing six tackles but did well to hold up Semi Radradra in the first half. He kicked stunningly well for the corners and presented his side with opportunities to stay in the game but his kicking from hand was hit and miss. Twelvetrees’ looping wide pass to Carreras was on the money for the Argentine to score.
9. Willi Heinz – 5
HEINZ’S service was not quite at its quickest to use Gloucester’s ball carriers to full effect. His box kicking was inconsistent and made it difficult for his chasers at times. But the former England man still had some strong moments in defence, most notably disrupting Andy Uren at the base of a scrum with the Bears looking set to pounce from 5m after multiple resets.
1. Val Rapava-ruskin – 5
GLOUCESTER’S scrum struggled early on and Rapava-ruskin was punished with a yellow card as Bristol piled pressure on the visitors’ line. Jamal Ford-robinson came on to shore up the scrum as the prop served his time and Rapava-ruskin was not able to replicate that when back on the field.
2. Jack Singleton – 5
HAD a hit and miss night with the lineout as a couple of throws went loose at key times – notably, a miscommunication that saw an overthrow in the lead up to Charles Piutau’s try.
3. Fraser Balmain – 6
BALMAIN and his front row stayed resilient at the scrum despite their early troubles and managed to put pressure on the Bristol pack on a couple of occasions. Had an intriguing battle against Yann Thomas.
4. Ed Slater – 7
SLATER showed great leadership and experience to try to disrupt the Bears’ play wherever he could. His lineout work was at its best as he challenged Chris Vui well and managed to steal one of the Bears’ throws. In defence, he made a key tackle on scrum-half Andy Uren which forced a knock-on on the Gloucester try line. Partly responsible for the red card as it was a double tackle on Steven Luatua.
5. Matias Alemanno – 3
AN unlucky, but also reckless and slightly stupid, end to the Argentine’s night. There may have been a slight bit of influence from Slater also tackling Steven Luatua, but to continue to tip and spear the Bristol captain was careless and reckless in the current game. He was a huge loss in the scrum, the maul defence and maul attack, which struggled to fire, and his season is now probably over. It was a correct decision and George Skivington had no complaints.
6. Jordy Reid – 7
REID epitomises what this Gloucester team is about. He carried relentlessly with ball in hand, including a destructive carry in the build-up to the Carreras try as he ran over Callum Sheedy. He was also unlucky that he overweighted a hack through as the ball ran dead.
7. Lewis Ludlow – 6
LUDLOW’S defensive work rate was commendable once again as he chased down kicks hard to make big hits and attempt to put his side on the front foot, but even the tackling expert that is the Cherry and Whites captain couldn’t contain this free-flowing Bristol attack.
8. Ruan Ackermann – 7
ACKERMANN was once again was destructive when the ball came to him. From seven carries, the South African made the most metres of any Gloucester player with 29 metres, although 10 Bristol players made more ground in attack with Semi Radradra topping the pile with 110m.
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Henry Walker – 5; 17. Jamal Ford-robinson – 7; 18. Jack Stanley – 5; 19. Ben Morgan – 5; 20. Jack Clement – 5
21. Stephen Varney – 5; 22. Lloyd Evans – 5; 23. Ollie Thorley – 5
THE bench couldn’t change Gloucester’s fortunes as they were unable to overcome the man advantage. However, during the sin bin period of Rapavaruskin in the first half, Jamal Fordrobinson gave a brilliant cameo performance to solidify the scrum and force the turnover on their own line.