Less Than I’d Hoped for!

I was disappointed that we came away from Kingston Park without at least a losing BP. I genuinely believe the lads had earned at least that, especially when you look at so much of the detail.

I don’t want to be harsh on Craig but I have to say he doesn’t have the pace for the 6 shirt and if we had someone with just one or two meters of extra pace we would have been looking at our first try as well as denying Radwan Falcon’s first…….You’re looking at a very different game right there.

Falcon’s second came from what I assume was a misunderstanding between Garvey & Val that left the door wide open. It is what it is and will no doubt be something worked on during the week.

Our set piece has improved so much this season that according to the stats our line out is second only behind Falcons. I can believe that, I think it’s our most improved area and May’s try on 24 minutes came from another excellent line out with rolling maul which it is so good seeing Gloucester make an effective tool once more. I recall Fisher, when asked what he’d like to see most at Gloucester, said “a 40 meter rolling maul against Bath in front of The Shed for a try”! Perhaps that day might be coming.

I’ve seen a lot of criticism of the game as we played it, as well as a lot of positive comments it has to be said. But to be honest, for me, one of Gloucester’s very best bits of rugby in the last couple of seasons has to be the defence we showed at half time when we held up to over 35 phases of attack in our 22 without giving away a penalty before the inevitable happened. But despite the effort of that defence they then defend successfully against that line out drive and it was the cherry on the cake.

For a huge chunk of the game we kept Falcons in check and when they finally got the win they went, briefly, to the top of the table having won 5 from 6 which shows they are a quality side; although they are also one of the teams to benefit from covid points, as are the six teams immediately above us.

So facts have been against us and that’s what we have to live with, but we went to Kingston Park and Falcons knew they’d been in a battle with a team that is growing in quality and clearly has ambition…..if only Polledri had been in receipt of Simpson’s pass!

But in a review of the season so far I’m struggling to understand why heads are being called for. I genuinely like what I’m seeing. As far as I’m concerned we were in a mess, a genuine mess, before covid. Losing game after game and dropping back from a pinnacle that seemed to be a launchpad from the end of 2019. Those of you that have read some of what I write regularly will recall I went on a blitz reporting what was going wrong behind the scenes. The main cause of the problems in my opinion has now gone and we are sailing calmer waters. We have a young and, on paper, inexperienced coaching set-up. We have a huge number of new signings and academy players. We have existing guys that are only just starting to get regular game time. And yet, for me, I’m seeing things at Gloucester I haven’t seen for a good long while. There is a team spirit about the place. All what I hear coming from the back rooms is that the guys want to play for the Shirt and for Skivs.

What I’m seeing that I haven’t seen for so long is cohesion and that is a key to success. I’ve said elsewhere I believe we will be regular top 6, if not top 4 by the end of 2022/23 if we keep the majority of what we currently have. We will be 8th or higher at the end of this season. The improvements are there for all to see. They don’t all happen at once but they can be seen to be happening. Memory is not too distant of a bonus point win v Wasps and putting the fear of God into Chiefs.

And, it has to be said, I don’t know who is spotting for us at the moment, but by crickey they should be given a bonus.