Gloucester prepared to live or die by the sword
FULL-BACK Tom Hudson promises Gloucester will adopt a rip-roaring approach to their first Champions Cup campaign in five years.
The Cherry & Whites take on French champions Castres full of confidence after last week’s 35-21 drubbing of Wasps at the Ricoh Arena. Hudson told The
Rugby Paper: “We’re a confident squad that’s sitting in a good Premiership position and we want to reflect that against Castres. Attacking rugby is part of our DNA and we want to scare defences and attack from anywhere.
“You live or die by the sword sometimes, as we showed against Harlequins when our execution was poor and we lost. But we went to Wasps with something to prove and we’re not going to shut up shop or go to a conservative kicking game.”
With Lewis Ludlow suspended, Freddie Clarke comes into Gloucester’s back row, while Tom Savage starts at lock and Franco Marais is at hooker.
In the backs Jason Woodward rotates with Hudson for the No.15 jersey, Tom Marshall replaces Matt Banahan and Callum Braley gets a shot at No.9.
Hudson’s battle with Woodward has been fierce. He said: “Frustration is a side-effect of competition but we’ve got a seriously strong squad now and I’ve been pushing Jason for that No.15 spot and have been getting my opportunities.”
Hudson knows Gloucester’s dismal record of not having reached the Champions Cup knock-out stages since 2008 needs ending now.
He added: “Not many of our squad have experienced the Champions Cup but a guy like Danny Cipriani knows what it takes to win it. He’s like an extra coach on the field, talks very well and that gives a side a lot more confidence going in.
“This competition is a massive target of ours and we expect a big performance against Castres.”
Last season’s Top 14 shock-troops Castres have failed to reach the Champions Cup quarterfinals in 11 attempts since 2002 – a record forwards coach Joe El Abd wants to change.
Star backs Rory Kockott and David Smith drop to the bench after last week’s 14-9 home loss to Stade Francais, but El Abd said: “In the last two seasons I’ve been involved we’ve been in the mix to qualify going into the final pool game.
“The biggest problem has been our away record but this time, as French champions, we want to give a good account of ourselves. Where better to start than at Kingsholm?”