Skivington looking for players to prove themselves
Skivington has told his players ahead of today’s clash with Exeter at Kingsholm that they may have nothing to play for in the Premiership but they will need to show they are ready to feature in Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Treviso.
Gloucester have won only four Premiership matches this campaign and last week Skivington took the chance at Saracens to assess his options for next season, rewarded with a try hat-trick by 20-year old wing Josh Hathaway.
Only three players from that side start against Exeter and just two are in the same positions – outside-half Charlie Atkinson and second row Freddie Clarke.
“It is an opportunity for the players ahead of the Treviso game and they know they are playing to get picked in that game,” said Skivington. “And there is also a chance for some players who might not have got a chance had we been more competitive in the league.
“We are determined to do better in the Premiership next season and there is an opportunity for us to push a few bits at the back end of this season, expose a few people and work on a couple of areas so we do not have another campaign like this one.”
Hathaway will not be involved against Exeter with Ollie Thorley fit again on the left wing and Jonny May, who will be leaving the club at the end of the season, on the right.
“Josh has been brilliant,” said Skivington. “We have dipped him in and out of front line games all season. Put the ball in his hands and he can do some dangerous stuff, as he showed at Saracens.
“He knows how much he has to work on his game and that is the beauty of him. You pay wingers to score tries first and foremost, but you have to have an all-round game to be successful in the Premiership and if you want to kick on after that.
“Defence is a different challenge for every young wing. You come up against world class players and sides play slightly differently. Josh does not have major weaknesses in his game and has to learn to do it for 80 minutes in defence and attack.
“He is an extremely talented, diligent kid who wants to do well. He has all the credentials to kick on and be a rock star but he knows he has a bit of work to do yet. He has put up his hand for the semi-final.”
Skivington has form in bringing on fledgling wings with Louis Rees-Zammit going on to play for the Lions when he was just 20.
“I remember that period with Zam,” said Skivington. “He started ripping into it and focused on the nitty-gritty of being a winger. When he really honed in on it he was probably the best in the world.
“It is a journey a lot of young wingers go on. You are always scoring tries but there is a lot of work off the ball now and you have to be tough. That is just a learning process and when Zam got hold of that he made a name for himself.”