Gloucester
2011 starts with a miserable flop for Glaws
JSD - try
By Cherry Picker
January 2 2011
Put to the test by the weakest team in the Premiership, Gloucester failed again – not only did they fail to get their La Rochelle flop out of their system, they repeated many of the mistakes that featured the Kingsholm collapse against the French side. And with that going on, even against Leeds the outcome was virtually inevitable.
The gap was only two points, at 15-13, but it might as well have been 22.
There’s no disguising the fact that this wasn’t just a defeat, it was a BAD defeat. There are games teams with Gloucester’s ambitions and squad strength MUST win, and like November’s trip to Newcastle, this was one of them.
Granted, Leeds were fighting for their lives, but the stats prove they are the worst team in the Premiership by some distance and losing can only be described as a failure for Glaws. The blame rests on many sets of shoulders, including those of coach Bryan Redpath.
He stressed before the game that he had stressed how important the match was and how vital it as to win – the fact that he got no response prompts questions.
It’s always easy to be wise after the event, of course, wondering why Freddie Burns was picked ahead of Nicky Robinson at fly-half, but perhaps getting things right for the weekend’s home game against Exeter is more important.
Redpath told the BBC: “Some of our basics weren't good enough - our catching of balls, running into touch, control and the contact. I highlighted it, I talked about it prior to the game.
"It would be interesting to hear some of the reasons for it. I certainly highlighted how important this game was to us. After the last performance, too, which wasn't good enough - and today is similar, so there's going to be some harsh words on Monday. Some players didn't work hard enough.
"We lost the game because we didn't control our possession well enough."
Probably a fair summing up – so WHY didn’t they control possession well enough. After all, all nine of Leeds’s previous opponents had managed to do so.
Hendre Fourie’s try opened the scoring for Leeds, Ceiron Thomas converting, but Glaws responded well as James Simpson-Daniel crossed and Burns converted.
There was a penalty each before half-time, and Burns kicked Glaws head in the second half, but wing Michael Stephenson scored the crucial try and the score stayed at 15-13 for the final quarter.
It as a frustrating finish, a frustrating day and a frustrating way to start the new year.
For the first time this season, Redpath and his team are under real pressure to produce better.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
02/01/2011 10:16
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
But seeing the result was a big blow - that was a game to be won and on the face of it, losing is a shocker.
You did however show some moments of class, notably your try which was great to watch, you also create some very quick ball and move sides very well from East to West but as I said earlier more often than not to deep in your own half, great choice at Fly half for us as FB was not at the races, NR would of been a better choice.
Good Luck fro the rest of the season.
@#$%&.
Thanks for your comments, but nothing you or anybody else says can hide the fact that Glaws let themselves and us down.
Despite a couple of missed kicks for touch, I thought Freddie Burns played well. He was strong in contact and good in defence. Certainly a better running 10 than Nicky Robinson has seemed of late. Scott Lawson did a lot of hard work in the tight and set pieces, Nick Wood had a great game in the scrums. Sinbad was class as ever. Tins missed a couple of tackles and didn't have his best game. Eliota played well in attack, he's very good at straightening the line. Sadly, where we were totally incompetent was in the lineout. Total lack of communication from the second row it seemed. Will James also had a disappointing game, and didn't use his bulk well in the loose.
Great day out though, and a great place to spend new year. Thanks to Heckler and all the other Leeds guys who hosted us.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:01:05:13:14:35 by Dannyinnit.
