The Premiership Cup games have been a tough pill to swallow for the hardened fans of Gloucester RFC who, after all, want to see our team win. But what if our coahces have had a different idea all along. Not to see the team lose, obviously, but to use the cup games as a proving ground and pre-season.
We have been missing four top internationals in Braley, Polledri, Heinz and Mostert, as have many other teams, it has to be said. But when I look at the player count of the cup matches I see we have fielded no less than 43 players in the four games, even with those four missing. I doubt we’d see such a spread among the teams we played (and, no, I’m not going through their stats!).
Many of those have played four times, most at least three only 7 of that 43 player list have appeared only once, Woodward, Thorley, Dunn, Hunt, Butler, Howard & Barton.
I recall we had a very bad run of injuries last season. A run of injuries that could well be responsible for not having a clearer margin between us and fourth spot or even challenging for the top of the league itself. It was also a packed calendar with 45 games between August 8th 2018 and 25th May 2019. A punishing schedule for any pro-rugby team.
So the boss calls the shots, cut out pre-season friendlies and uses the cup matches as a proving ground and to get guys match fit. And remember, fitness has been one of our major strengths last season with Tobin driving forward our S&C.
So, what do we see after the four cup matches, four losses. Not what we’d like to see. But can we see anything else? Well, we see 36, 57, Slater & Marais siging extensions which is a good thing……..But what about the main news of the week, if not season? Just how many teams would be chasing that Thorley signature? And we’ve secured it. 43 names playing in the cup matches with more than 20 top rated academy lads cutting their teeth against top opposition, that’s without the four internationals, making an impressive squad size, something I’ve been critical of in the past.
So we move in to the new season with hardly any injuries, a packed squad with game time under their belt and, clearly, a team motivated to remain and build on last season.
I don’t agree with all I see at my Glawster, but I think things look good, even after four losses on the trot. And there’s something in JA’s smile in this pic (reprinted with consent of Sian Nicole Lewis) that tells me he is not concerned and has something up his sleeve. I’m looking forward to this season 😉
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