By Cherry Picker
December 2 2009
Two of Gloucester’s injury-hit internationals are aiming to make December the month in which the team’s season turns round, exchanging frustration and failure for stability and success. And if James Simpson-Daniel and Olly Morgan do hit form, there’s no doubt that a revival is more than an outside possibility for the cherry and whites.
And what better time and place to start than against a rejuvenated Newcastle Falcons at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon in a match that starts at the traditional time of 3pm?
Morgan feels he needs to repay the club for the problems caused by his niggling run of injuries this season, while coach Bryan Redpath has called on JSD to reproduce the form that saw him shine in the defeat against Harlequins last weekend.
Redpath says he believes Sinbad has under-performed this season – though why he has chosen to single him out for that accusation when the same could be said of so many others is a bit of a mystery.
He told the Citizen: “He looked strong and dangerous every time he touched the ball. He's always been a great player, no-one has ever questioned that.
"He's had bad luck with injuries but he's probably under-performed at 13 for us this year.
"Harlequins was his first performance for us this season when he actually looked very dangerous. He looked comfortable in a lot of things he was doing. That's credit to him.
"He's had to work hard and fight through a lot of things and he's got to keep doing that.
"You can't just have one week when it's good and the next you standards drop. For him I hope he pushes on and I'll certainly be saying that to him."
There’s no doubt that the Sinbad of old can play a major part in the revival Glaws so badly need this season if they are to at least gain some self-respect out of the campaign.
And the same applies to Morgan (right), who also did well against Quins.
He told the Citizen: "It's disappointing letting the guys down and the management, but I can't help the body. I was just pleased to get through it.
"I'm happy to be back, although for me it was a so-so game.
"I want to keep playing, but I'm just setting game-by-game goals at the moment, that's the most important thing for me."