Davies tests Glaws squad's strength

The Gloucester team that was pipped at the post in their LV= Cup game at Swansea will largely be in midweek action again when Fiji visit Kingsholm, but the chances of them all staying in the team for Saturday's second LV= game at home to London Welsh are slim.

The players who figured against Ospreys need the games for a variety of reasons, but coach Nigel Davies will no doubt ring the changes for the LW game.

Glaws will again be disrupted by international calls, but most other clubs are affected and none of them can use that as an excuse. Davies will be keen to get something like his first-choice side back together before the return to Premiership action against Sale on November 24, the third Kingsholm game in a week and a half.

Losing at Ospreys was a disappointment, but Glaws could just as easily have won and Davies told the Citizen: "The important thing about improving the strength and depth of the squad is that one of the best ways to do that is by giving experience to the young players you have through the squad.

"We've tried to do that as much as possible this year, in the A League, the Amlin and now the LV=Cup.

"It's really important we keep on pushing things that way, and realise that our priority this year is the league, while also using the other competitions to help us push on with the constant challenge of strengthening the squad as things progress."

The way Davies appears to be thinking, London Welsh can expect a bit of a torrid time when they come to Kingsholm, even though the coach admits that the Premiership is the top priority.