London Irish
Second Bite of the Cherry ?
By Griff
January 29 2009
It seems that Gloucester, if pundits, papers and their supporters are to be believed, are in crisis. It's the kind of crisis that most team would be reasonably happy to have. Second in the GP and, when on their game, playing attractive decent rugby. It seems that Gloucester are in a different league when it comes to crises.
You see, a London Irish crisis is bottom of the table grinding out losing bonus points and hoping to hell not to be relegated. Or at least it was, things have changed a bit. Supporters are getting used to the nose-bleeds induced by sitting at the top of the table and people are starying to expect big things. Perhaps our next crisis will be a run of 3 losses or losing 4 out of six.
So, the latest top-of-the-table Guinness Premiership clash, far from being a ding-dong battle between two sides at the top of their game, is a foregone conclusion? Don't you believe it. It was only last year when an on-form Irish travelled to Kingsholm when the Cherry and Whites were having difficulties. They had to field a team made up of school-children, crowd-members who'd remembered their boots and re-animated zombies (or something). A bit of home-reffing, madness from a certain Argentinean number 8 and a fine performance from the tractor-driving youth put Irish away 34 - 14.
It is fair comment from Gloucester that they have injury troubles. Were Irish to have the same level of injury we'd have trouble fielding 22 players. Gloucester, though, don't have the smallest squad inthe GP, they have a seasoned squad of such strength-in-depth of which lesser clubs can only dream.
So, with the injuries and the confidence problems that can be caused by a losing-streak Irish do have a bit of hope going into the annual trip to Castle Grim. Gloucester, though, don't come there-or-thereabouts in the GP each season (and HC, and EDF) without having a bit of mental toughness. They also have two massive incentives to put Irish away.
Firstly a win will see them go top and, given their widely publicised problems, that'd be a huge fillip. More importantly, the last match between the two sides was a bit of a blow for the West Country boys. Visiting the MadStad on the back of 7 straight wins, second to Irish only on points-scored Gloucester were subjected to their biggest defeat in GP history, losing 42 - 12. Combine that with a disappointing home-loss to Cardiff and you can bet the Gloucester team will come out fired-up and the home crowd will be almost rabid in their support.
Irish have done a great job so far this season in starting well, they'll need to continue this trend as it was a slow start that allowed the youngsters to get their confidence and stride last season. If Irish can come out blazing, silence the crowd and sow the seeds of doubt in the home-team's heads then it could be a rare away win at Kingsholm. Let the Cherry and Whites to gain ground, though, and it could be the same old story.
So, the latest top-of-the-table Guinness Premiership clash, far from being a ding-dong battle between two sides at the top of their game, is a foregone conclusion? Don't you believe it. It was only last year when an on-form Irish travelled to Kingsholm when the Cherry and Whites were having difficulties. They had to field a team made up of school-children, crowd-members who'd remembered their boots and re-animated zombies (or something). A bit of home-reffing, madness from a certain Argentinean number 8 and a fine performance from the tractor-driving youth put Irish away 34 - 14.
It is fair comment from Gloucester that they have injury troubles. Were Irish to have the same level of injury we'd have trouble fielding 22 players. Gloucester, though, don't have the smallest squad inthe GP, they have a seasoned squad of such strength-in-depth of which lesser clubs can only dream.
So, with the injuries and the confidence problems that can be caused by a losing-streak Irish do have a bit of hope going into the annual trip to Castle Grim. Gloucester, though, don't come there-or-thereabouts in the GP each season (and HC, and EDF) without having a bit of mental toughness. They also have two massive incentives to put Irish away.
Firstly a win will see them go top and, given their widely publicised problems, that'd be a huge fillip. More importantly, the last match between the two sides was a bit of a blow for the West Country boys. Visiting the MadStad on the back of 7 straight wins, second to Irish only on points-scored Gloucester were subjected to their biggest defeat in GP history, losing 42 - 12. Combine that with a disappointing home-loss to Cardiff and you can bet the Gloucester team will come out fired-up and the home crowd will be almost rabid in their support.
Irish have done a great job so far this season in starting well, they'll need to continue this trend as it was a slow start that allowed the youngsters to get their confidence and stride last season. If Irish can come out blazing, silence the crowd and sow the seeds of doubt in the home-team's heads then it could be a rare away win at Kingsholm. Let the Cherry and Whites to gain ground, though, and it could be the same old story.
West-country conspiracy theorists must be having a field-day with Martin Johnson releasing Nick Kennedy and Delon Armitage back to Irish to get game-time while Mike Tindall will spend the weekend off-games at the England coach's behest. Kennedy especially will be an annoyance with most of Gloucester's first-choice second-rows unavailable.
Whatever happens it should be an entertaining game. Both sides are capable of playing fantastic running rugby and neither are particularly noted for their spoiling tactics. Should be a cracker!
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Discussion started by The Craic www.londonirish.org , 29/01/2009 23:36
The Craic www.londonirish.org
29/01/2009 23:36
29/01/2009 23:36
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Good points well made Griff.
Only one criticism: could you crop the picture so we cannot see those bogeys in the girl's nose? On closer inspection there seemed to be one in her mouth as well. I was eating my breakfast at the time!
There is also the small matter of showing a girl's cherry on a site accessible to minors!
Only one criticism: could you crop the picture so we cannot see those bogeys in the girl's nose? On closer inspection there seemed to be one in her mouth as well. I was eating my breakfast at the time!
There is also the small matter of showing a girl's cherry on a site accessible to minors!
Everything's relative, and it's a crisis to be inconsistent in the season when many of us Glaws fans expected the team to turn promise into achivement. If you are coming to the match, enjoy your day out ... within limits, of course.
Does anyone else find the picture quite erotic, or should I get out more often?
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