And as usual we say goodbye during the closed season to some good servants. Dan Murphy (prop), Rob Cook (utility/full back), James Hudson (lock) and
Nick Wood (prop, our most capped player ever).
But probably the hardest one to take is the loss of Billy Meakes. In his two seasons with Gloucester he has flourished but won only 27 caps, and it’s no wonder he flies straight back into the arms of Cheika. He has been a very valuable asset in the centre and I have no doubts we have not heard the last of him.
With the loss of Wood & Murphy some buys in the names of Orr & Hohneck. Hohneck hasn’t exactly set the world on fire and with Gloucester’s poor EQP %ages could prove costly. Orr has plenty to prove as a 20 year old, again, with no EQP rights.
Matu’u comes in with some reasonable pedigree and probably takes 2nd spot at hooker but puts pressure on Hibbard. Dawidiuck will get more rest and Lindsay will probably not be offered a new contract and will be doing a great deal of community work this season. Denton is our last Forward signing and with 40 caps for 10 points is relatively untroubled by success or glory. Thrush & Galarza/Savage probably have 2nd row tied up but Thrush needs to stop missing tackles.
Scott & Symons come in to bolster the centre line. Matt Scott, despite earning 36 Scottish caps, it seems he is determined not to take any of the limelight away from other unknown players. Symons I struggled with the moment I heard the momentous news that he might stick with one club for more than 36 hours. London Irish are probably grateful for his lack of loyalty after Worcester spent a fortune on getting him fit following injury only to see him sign for a club destined for ignominy…probably the only person involved in rugby not to see the Exiles fall coming after the Premiership’s 3rd round. Fortunate for him Martin St Quinton found 3 groats spare in his wallet and was persuaded to part with them for another middle ranking player, albeit with injury history…..hopefully not another Trinder.
Some young lads are stepping up, Thorley, Protheroe and others. But they still have teeth cutting ahead of them. With the return of the LV chances await.
In comparison Chiefs spent wisely & bolster a strong locally grown side while Wasps are extravagant and run the risk of accusations that they are doing what they accused Bath & Sarries of. Sarries, of course, re-sign willy nilly. With top wages and almost guaranteed top four/play off rugby leading to Eddie Jones casting his eye over the squad why wouldn’t you stay.
It’s difficult to know what Gloucester intend. Certainly there are some good names in the squad. We have built a pack with a fearsome reputation once again. The defence improved in the last half of last season and became miserly in letting tries through. But our attack was, to put it bluntly, appalling with a steady average of 1.6 tries per game. Our two most likely strikes of Sharples and May on the wings but with 15 starts last season Charlie only touched down 3 times. May played 8 scored none. In fact our best player score wise was Rob Cook with 6 tries who we deemed surplus to requirements.
An unproven kick coach, Tim Taylor, comes in to replace backs/attacks coach Nick Walshe who, lets be honest, failed to light the blue touch paper and retire. Dan Tobin replaces Paddy Anson as head of fitness and is clearly another of David Humphries Irish signings…..It still rankles what he did to Muggo and can therefore never be trustworthy in my mind.
I feel this is our last great opportunity. With players the calibre of Hibbard, Hook, Afoa and others coming to the end of their contracts this season, if Gloucester do not perform, if we fail to achieve, as a minimum, top 6 status, Championship Cup rugby for 2017/18 and at least a glimmer of potential top 4 and play off we will suffer a mass walk out with failure to re-sign key components of the squad….and that includes coaching staff.
If that happens Gloucester will be pinned to the bottom 6 of the Premiership for several more seasons at least and I do not say that lightly. Bath have shown what can happen even with an extremely talented squad that will certainly have cost well in excess of the salary cap. I find it difficult to imagine a season end for 2016/17 that doesn’t include Wasps, Chiefs & Sarries in the top four. That leaves a fourth place being fought for by Tigers, Saints, Quins & Sharks all of whom ended higher than us last season.
Although we missed out on a top four (six) place for many reasons 5th March proved costly, despite being a memorable victory. There are many stats for last season that indicated just how close we came to significant achievement. Missed BPs, games lost by fine margins and, I’m told, 5 games lost when we were ahead in the 70th minute.
This was exacerbated by team selection being strangled by demands for EPQ limits being met. The stats say it all with the three teams with the lowest percentage of EPQ players all falling in the bottom 5 of the table last season.
Our last 3 seasons haven’t made pretty reading 8th, 9th & 9th, disappointing despite the sop of the ER Challenge Cup in 2014/15.
In all honesty I think it’s a tough call. As is oft said, it’s a league of fine margins. I believe we have it in us to perform. I will be in The Shed for every game that I can attend. I will be singing passionately. But, most of all, I will be enjoying what is undoubtedly the finest rugby league in the world….ever…….But St Quinton needs to decide if he’s for us or against us.
winnyssite 