Nicky R -keep the ball

By Cherry Picker
December 8 2010

After last weekend’s weather postponement away to Sale in the frozen north, anybody who thinks a weekend trip to France would see Gloucester escape the grip of winter should perhaps think again. Over the last few days, the weather has been a lot better in south west England than it has in La Rochelle, where Glaws are due to play their latest Euro Challenge Cup-tie.

There was not far short of a foot of snow on their pitch last weekend, and La Rochelle were far from confident that the game could be played as planned.
However, things have improved since and in midweek there was a temperature of double figures ABOVE freezing round the Bay of Biscay port.
Positively balmy.
Glaws are keen the game is played after their weekend off, but can relax a little in the knowledge that if la Rochelle can’t get the game on, either on their own pitch or elsewhere, they forfeit the points. A bit of a harsh rule, but probably less harsh on French clubs than those here at home.
But the priority for Glaws at the moment is to get their away form sorted out.
Excuses can be made for the fact that they have won only once on the road this season, but the fact that the single victory was at Bath, where it’s never easy for the cherry and whites, shows what can be done.
Winning at Bath makes losing at places like Newcastle and Newport look worse results than they actually were.
La Rochelle are not world-beaters, but neither are Newcastle Falcons and we all know what happened there a fortnight ago. Glaws were determined to right the Kingston Park wrongs at Sale before the weather intervened, and now the trip to France gives them the opportunity to sort out their away record AND get their discipline right.
Coach Bryan Redpath has made it clear top his players that the number of yellow cards this season is not acceptable, and fly-half Nicky Robinson could be accused of stating the obvious when he tells the Citizen that the answer is to keep the ball.
“"It's about securing possession and then keeping it for as long as possible – that way you can take some of those defensive penalty situations out of the equation.
"A win at La Rochelle this weekend would put us right back in contention after defeat at Agen, and it's pretty much vital to be honest."
He’s hit the nail on the head there … let’s hope the game is on so he gets a chance to be proved right.

Time for Glaws to sort out their away form

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 08/12/2010 10:36

Shedloads
08/12/2010 10:36

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Dannyinnit
08/12/2010 17:24

Didn't La Rochelle recently beat Agen? I might be wrong? It's going to be a very tough match, that hopefully we'll be able to sneak. No, La Rochelle aren't world beaters, but if the players learn anything from trips to Newcastle and Newport, hopefully it's not to take anyone lightly or underestimate them, away from home.

See you in the General Humberts!

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Two Sheds
09/12/2010 10:49

Oct 30, 29-14 to Agen.

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Trundle
10/12/2010 19:44

Let's stuff the froggies!

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Two Sheds
11/12/2010 10:49

Charming.

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