Fraser can go the distance now under Hudson’s watch

FRASER Balmain does not regard listening to the advice of Gloucester’s performance nutritionist James Hudson as the highlight of his working week, but it paid off in the victory over Gloucester last weekend.

Balmain, unusually for a front row forward, stayed on the pitch for the whole match and two minutes from time ran back to make a try-saving tackle that ensured Gloucester defeated Northampton.

“It is the first time I have got recognition for running,” said the 30-year-old prop, who joined from Leicester five years ago and last month reached 100 appearances for Gloucester.

“Dan Tobin is the best strength and conditioning coach I have ever worked with. It is is something the team buys into because no one wants to be the most unfit.

“I am probably not the prime example, but the squad is fitter. The lads are in the best condition since I joined and this is the stage of the season when it will really start to count.

“I have had nutritionists in the past who had a right go at me. I could understand why, but James Hudson (the former Gloucester lock) is terrific. He makes things as simple as possible.

“The basic message is not too much, the bit I struggle with! I think there are 30 things on my list that I must not touch. A feature of the club now is not just how tight the players are but the staff as well. Everyone is pulling in the same direction.”

Gloucester have been on course for a top four finish all season, but defeats at Exeter and Leicester halted a run of three victories and the race will probably go down to the final round of the campaign.

“We are in a good place,” said Balmain. “We are quietly confident that if we get everything right, we can beat anyone. We went through a tough period last season, but when you come out on the other side of that it makes you tighter as a group.

“If we went 13 points down then, as happened against Northampton last week, the game would probably have gone. Now we do not panic, but go back to what we know we are good at and go again.

“I see similarities to the time I started with Leicester when they were playing in finals in terms of how close the players are. We believe in each other and the coaches and we have to stick with what we’ve been doing for the rest of the season.”