Scrumtime

All eyes will be on the Gloucester scrum as we host an exotic encounter with Japan on Tuesday night ...

Once upon a time Gaws traditionally had the most feared pack in rugby. Not any more.

Once again scrummaging was our downfall as Saints ran in four tries in the LV=Cup with only the performance of 17 year old  centre  Ollie Thorley to gladden the hearts.

But the old adage rings true. You can have the best backs in the world but if they're not getting any decent ball you won't win matches.

Andrew Stanley wll be in charge of the team again and he has hinted that the Gloucs scrum is getting undue attention from referees because we are getting a reputation as poor scrummagers. Catch 22 , of course, but you don't have to be a ref to realsie it's not our strongest area of the game at the moment.

Whether the Japanese can help give our pack a good hard run-out is in question. They were given a torrid time by the much heavier Scots in the 42-17 defeat at Murrayfield where they frequently collapsed the scrum.

They will entertain, and it's to be hoped we  will be fielding our strongest available side with a view to getting the league season back on track after Falcons visit in the LV at the weekend. Freddie Burns may be missing after cuttinbg his forehead, while Matt Kvesic also had to leave the field at Saints with a head injury.