Worst Gloucs Team Ever?
By Cheery Cherry
January 6 2014
Eminent rugby journalist Stephen Jones says the performance against Sarries was "the worst I have ever seen" from a Gloucester team. Tricky to argue with that ..
Writing in the Sunday Times Jones says: ".... this Gloucester team were so dreadfully poor that not only could they make no impact when they had two extra men, they were also beaten by an Owen Farrell penalty during that segment of play. "
When we attract reports like that in the national media you have to ponder on how long this type of performance can be tolerated even if reinforcements are on the way in the summer, and even if relegation is not a threat - this season.
Nigel Davies is, as ever, honest about the performance in the 29-8 defeat. He is quoted as saying:
“We weren’t clinical or accurate enough throughout and in that first half we weren’t physical enough. We didn’t execute the game-plan and put ourselves under pressure.”
“We knew what was coming but didn’t deal with it.”
There is a massive lack of confidence in the side. The pack doesn't think it can win much ball and the backs no longer expect them to deliver. Some of the best openfield runners in the game aren't getting a sniff.
Do we have to put up with this until the end of the season?
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However, it was not a good performance, and I see the reporter on the Sarries site has put it down to laziness, which may be more accurate, but which is totally unforgivable.
The forwards are struggling at the moment but what they need is for us to get behind them and not constantly expose their failings.
They look like a proud bunch and they have a tremendous heritage to live ui to. I'm sure they're putting the work in in training, but that takes time to take effect especially when playing against outifts like Sarries have assembled at great expense.
Player management and loans/part salary for the emerging youngsters with Bedford gives both clubs an advantage.
Sorry for intruding on your board, but I am getting a bit fed up with this as an explanation of why Saracens win at the moment. It may make good sensational headlines, but it isn't actually true.
Good luck for the rest of the season by the way -
Let's face it, it's less palatable to blame cheating than accept that perhaps some clubs are better than others at finding talent at the right price, developing other talent, and moulding it all into teams. That advantage comes and goes, and at the moment it seems to have gone from Gloucester, painfully for the supporters but worse for the players.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Quote:ned3
d I see the reporter on the Sarries site has put it down to laziness
If I can clarify: thanks by the way for reading it
All 3 Sarries tries had no forwards in play, was all 'backs vs backs', except for Scalla Brits who is not your normal forward. Harsh to expect anyone except Kvesic to get across
The laziness was specifically in the kick-chase where generally only the kicker was following up. It may be deliberate policy, but I doubt it
It was prompted by Delallios comments; There were 5 Glaws forwards on the blind-side of a ruck when every attacking Sarries player was on the open-side.
He suggested they should be paying their £38 like everyone else