Gloucester RFC are 4th in the Aviva Premiership. No one predicted that at the start of the season, least of all me. I believed we would start climbing the table around February time and would hopefully make top 4 by season end leaving us a chance to take the title in the play offs. I’m a happy bunny 😉
There are, however, serious concerns. Chief among them has to be the line out. This set piece is an essential attacking component of any Premiership team. Any penalty giving the opportunity for a skilled 10 to kick to the 5 meter line for a devastating forward 8 to develop a rolling maul with peel offs and maybe a quick feed to an overlap for a neat little converted try…..and 7 points thank you very much. And let’s be honest, Billy Burns has been devastating with the kick to touch or winger this season 😉
But our line out has been less than devastating. Less than 83% success rate. How can we rely on a devastating attack set piece if almost 1 in 5 of our line outs are won by the opposition? Hardly a fearsome part of our game plan.
Of our first 12 games the following stats for line out won are in regard to the starting No2.
RH 78.5
MM 81.25
JH 89.47
Hibbsy has earned his reputation at Glawster. We all love him. This blond, tattooed, behemoth that seemingly lays his life on the line every time he dons the shirt. I love the guy as much as the next Shed Head. But the Stats speak for themselves. Hanson is way out front. He has earned his starting position.
But here’s the thing. I was once told that Hibbsy couldn’t stand being 2nd best. Perhaps he’s matured. Moving to NGD is, perhaps, a wonderful thing. Our Richard retains pretensions about the Welsh squad. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll make that 3rd choice hooker. When he first joined Gloucester I was critical. I said he was pedestrian, arrogant. I say now, Richard Hibbard is a changed man. His time at Gloucester changed him. He has slimmed down, become more determined. If I was Gatland I would want him in my squad more for what he brings to the squad than his chance of playing on the day. Hibbsy has always been a warrior but he has now become a team player and if I was Gatland I would want him on my side.
But we seriously need consistency. Our line out is currently running at 82% with all No2s, not nearly good enough. Looking at the stats; RH & MM do need to be replaced.
Our challenge this season also includes that we have given away an average of 10 penalties a game. Obviously this includes scrum penalties but it’s still way too many. Having said this, our worst result of the seasons, the 57-10 result at the AJ Bell included our best penalty result of just 4 penalties!! Work that one out. Our worst results are 17 against Tigers, 13 against Quins, 12 against Sarries. We cannot afford that sort of giveaway.
12 games and 8 games won. Nice. But other stats don’t favour us an we need to redouble our efforts. -23 points diff! a 1 try positive diff. Just 5 BPs out of a potential 12 (if we had won all 12 games). Last season we had 14 BPs (but ended up 9th because we only won 7 out of 22.
I both love stats and hate stats. They can tell you all you need to know and nothing about what you need to know. Such is life.
But I still have £20 on Glaws to win the trophy;-)
winnyssite 