Fans left pondering after Glaws friendly defeat

There was good and bad on display from Gloucester as they lost their final pre-season game 22-16 against ospreys at Kingsholm. The big questions are, is the good good enough to take them places when the real things starts next weekend, and can they iron out the bad in time to ensure it doesn’t hamper the team’s progress through 2009-10?

Plagued by some strange refereeing decisions and confused by a host of personnel changes as the game wore on, most of the fans will have gone home wondering whether to be pleased or disappointed.
The game itself wasn’t a bad one, with plenty to keep them on their toes as Glaws fought back from a slow start to take the lead, then throw the game away as two late tries by Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar proved match-winners.
Charlie Sharples scored two good tries, Nicky Robinson handled and kicked well and there were other positives for coach Bryan Redpath, including the centre pairing of Mike Tindall and Samoan international Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and the occasional good work in the pack.
But there were perhaps a few too many negatives as well, even though the overall performance was probably the best of the three in pre-season for Glaws.
Ospreys weren’t able to field their British Lions, but they looked a strong side – the sort of strong side Glaws will face every weekend over the next eight months.
Fans will probably not go into the season with the sort of high hopes they have had for the last few seasons, but the backing will be there as usual – will the team’s performances match it?