Gloucester
Glaws need to bounce back at Brizzle
Dean Ryan
By Cherry Picker
February 13 2008
Gloucester’s players have been fully tested in three club competitions so far, and they have done well to take the club to the top of the GP table and into the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup. Now, as the second half of the season starts, it’s time for Dean Ryan’s aspirations to be a trophy-winning coach to be put to the test.
After starting the second half of the league season with last weekend’s home defeat at the hands of Leicester Tigers, Glaws will be desperate to bounce back when they make the short journey to the Memorial Stadium to take on Brizzle on Sunday.
Look at the GP table, and an away win should be on the cards, but Glaws are in the middle of a difficult period when they are losing players to injuries and the Six Nations, so Ryan not only needs to pick the right side, but also get them to play the right game.
That’s what a coach always has to do, of course, but his job is more difficult now than it was a couple of months ago, when Glaws were motoring and (almost) everybody was fit.
Now Ryan has to cope with the long-term absence of Mike Tindall as well as one or two other injuries and also to decide on which of his Six Nations players to include at the weekend, when the internationals take a week’s break.
But Jack Adams came into the side against Tiggers and won the man of the match award, so there is obviously strength in depth, even though the Tigers game suggested it could do with a bit more experience.
Last season’s last-gasp defeat in the same game needs to be avenged, of course, and Glaws will be hoping the weather is better than it was then.
Ryan’s team choice and tactics are always important – this weekend they could be absolutely vital.
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Are we playing your first 15 internationals, the 2nd 15 internationals or the "others"?
Sounds a bit hollow now doesn't it ?
I am not one to whinge about referees, but two absolutely appalling decisions from Mr Barnes that led to Bris kicking to the corner. The JSD not rolling away one would have been laughable if not so costly. The game definitely turned on those decisions but Glaws and Marco should have shown more composure in the situation.
Congratulations to Brizz as overall they wanted it more and deserved it.
