Better Luck Needed
By New Cherry
January 9 2023
Another massive game at Kingsholm this week as Leinster come visiting off the back of the last minute 19-16 defeat by Sarries.
There's little doubt that George Skivington will pick his strongest squad as the Cherry and Whites look to avenge that 57-0 hammering in Dublin- a Gloucs side packed with up and coming players.
He would have preferred to go into the European game off the back of a win against the league leaders, but it wasn't to be.
It was a game which could have gone either way and which is now mired in yet more discussion over Owen Farrell's tackling technique. Should he have been on the pitch to score the winning last-minute drop goal to take the game?
It wasn't a horrible high tackle on Jack Clement but the England fly-half is susceptible to grabbing high as an attacker sets him up from close range. Who hasn't done that?
Gloucester have yet to learn the pragmatism which wins big games. Max Malins and Ollie Thorley both crossed in the first half while Santiago Carreras and Farrell slotted penalties.
Sarries had the better of the territory and would have been further ahead if Farrell hadn't struggled with his boot after the break. However, Ivan van Zyl did cross to give Sarriess the lead only for Carreras to level things.
It would have been a fair draw but Sarries worked the position and Farrell did the rest.