Fans in the dark as Barkley dropped for Bath game

Olly B - dropped
By Cherry Picker
February 27 2009

Olly Barkley has been dropped by Gloucester for Saturday's Guinness Premiership West Country showdown against his former club Bath at Kingsholm. And fans are asking if the decision is anything to do with his comments this week that suggested that his heart is still at the Rec. Coach Dean Ryan has so far not explained his decision, so we are left to guess as we look for a reason.

Barkley's switch has not been a roaring success and he hasn't been at his best in recent games, but there's no doubt that any professional would be upset to be dropped for a game against his former club.
His place goes to Anthony Allen (right), who will be partnered in the cente by James Simpson-Daniel - surprise mobe, but one many people feel will work well for Glaws.
Olly Morgan is back at full-back after injury, so Iain Balshaw is able to operate on the wing, with Charlie Sharples deservedly keeping his place on the other wing.
Earlier this week, Barkley was quoted in the Citizen as saying: “I will never stop missing Bath. There’s a part of me that will always be there and I make no excuses for that because I was there for eight years.
“There’s still a strong part of me that’s there, but I’m committed to playing for Gloucester now.”
That may, of course, be true, and if it is it's time he gave his head a shake. He plays rugby for a living and there comes a time when it's best to keep your gob shut, and that was one of them for OB.
Whether his comments influenced Ryan's decision is open to question, because we can find no reference to the decision in his pre-match quotes. The closest we could find is: “I say it regularly but we have picked a side purely for this game but I am sure it will be an incredible occasion.”
Needless to say the official site says nothing to throw any light on the matter (perhaps trhat's why they are looking for a new media manager), so we are left to guess that Barkley is out because he hasn't been playing well and his midweek comments possibly killed off any lingering doubts befofre DR finalised his line-up.
With Rory Lawson released from the Scotland A team, he partners Carlos Spencer at half-back, while there are three changes in a pack affected by international calls.

Glaws: Olly Morgan; Iain Balshaw, James Simpson-Daniel, Anthony Allen, Charlie Sharples; Carlos Spencer, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Olivier Azam, Greg Somerville, Adam Eustace, Alex Brown, Apo Satala, Andy Hazell, Gareth Delve. Reps: Andy Titterrell, Jack Forster, Danny Wright, Dan Williams, Gareth Cooper, Ryan Lamb, Olly Barkley.
Bath: Joe Maddock, Andrew Higgins, Alex Crockett (c), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Matt Banahan, Butch James, Michael Claassens: David Barnes, Rob Hawkins,Duncan Bell, Justin Harrison,Peter Short, Andy Beattie, James Scaysbrook, Daniel Browne. Reps: Mark Lilley,Aaron Jarvis,Stuart Hooper,Jonny Faamatuainu, Scott Bemand, Shaun Berne, Michael Stephenson