Leeds Tykes vs Gloucester Preview


By Loosehead
September 1 2004

Loosehead previews the upcoming season-opener with Gloucester. Will it be the close Tykes win that we're hoping for, or the kind of drubbing we're dreading?

Is it that time of the season all ready? It doesn't seem like two minutes since I reviewed the season in "It wasn't that bad".
 
Since then players have come and players have gone (we have already discussed this in detail) now its time to get down to the business end of things! The first game is only a few days away, and the first game up is Glaws: one of the ZP' s more consistent teams who only two seasons ago finished top of the pile.
 
Gloucester are a well drilled side chock full of talent and coached by former Otley player Nigel Melville; ably supported by Sergeant Dean Ryan who is in charge of the forwards. The back line oozes talent with the likes of players such as Gommersal, McRae, Paul, Mauger, Simpson-Daniel, Garvey & Goodridge - a very talented back line that will be looking to attack at any opportunity. Gloucester's main strength through the years has been the forwards and in particular their tight five are not only very strong, they are all mobile and have good hands. They are very rarely run into the ground.
 
So how will we do? I think the game will be much like the Leicester fixture two seasons ago - Gloucester will no doubt start as favourites but this is the way we like it, being the underdogs. Although Glaws have a very strong front five at the moment they are without their first choice props   Bezuidenhout doesn't arrive until his Currie Cup commitments are over and Phil Vickery is out until at least mid-October. That means their starting props will more than likely be Wood and former Leeds prop Gary Powell, with Azam taking on the hooking duties.
 
With Kerr and Shelley being the number one props and Ronnie at hooker, we will have the edge in the front row. With the return of Big Murph into the 2nd row partnered by Tom Palmer we will have the front 5 that was so dominant and instrumental in our rise to fifth position two years ago. With the permutations of Hyde, Uys, Popham, Parks, Dunbar & Rigney, this will be the edge that the will need to enable them lay down a solid platform for the backs to do their business. Glaws are a very strong side and it is difficult to find any weakness, but they have been known to have lapses of concentration especially when they are away from home.
 
In the last couple of games at Headingley when these two sides met, Leeds have twice come away with a 4 tries and a win to pick up the maximum 5 points, but I don't think that will be the case this time. There will be tries scored by both sides but I believe the Tykes will endeavour and hold on to win the game there will be no more than 9 points between the sides at 80 minutes.
 
My one to watch for the game for the Tykes is Pierre Uys - a no nonsense, abrasive flanker who likes to take the ball up, he will be instrumental in laying the platform for the backs with the rest of the pack.