Gloucester start over - Again

How can I describe the Cherry and Whites season so far? Using many expletives is the answer. As a Gloucester Rugby fan I am used to being frustrated and underwhelmed but this season has been poor. At times it has been embarrassing and close to pathetic.

At the start of the season I predicted for Talking Rugby Union that Gloucester would finish in fifth, which was a minimum for a squad that has “strength in depth in key positions such as the back row and at scrum half, along with a host of try scorers on the wing. The Cherry and Whites boast a young English backline that has a better balance to it than most, what they need is good ball.”

Though, I didn’t realise it at the time, my words have become somewhat prophetic. Gloucester did indeed need good ball to fire their talented backline; however, we’ve rarely, if ever, got it.

They did indeed have strength in-depth in some key positions; unfortunately, the front five and fly-half were not among those key positions where we have had sufficient cover.

As the season has gone on this has become glaringly obvious to anyone and everyone involved in Gloucester Rugby.

This has forced the club to spend big, strengthening the front row with the signings of John Afoa and Richard Hibbard. Gloucester fans were already looking forward to next season but the signings of a world class tight head and arguably the best hooker in the world are enough to get fans dreaming once again. Throw Greig Laidlaw into the mix alongside existing internationals, and Gloucester look a lot stronger, don’t we?

Concentrating purely on the personnel side, which means ignoring the naivety of our backroom staff and a defence that leaks penalties and tries in equal measure, the issue this season was the lack of back up, a plan B.

Rupert Harden has failed to adjust to the new scrum rules this season. He has been solid and for one season impressive but this season you’ve wondered how he became a professional player, it’s been that bad.

Gloucester have therefore turned to Shaun Knight, Knight is a talented tight head, he’s honed his trade in New Zealand and the Rabo Direct with Glasgow. This season though, was his season to settle into the Gloucester squad and the Premiership full time. Not to anchor a scrum low on confidence.

Sila Puafisi then, is a more important signing than John Afoa. The All Black is a fantastic addition but injury prone; Gloucester, like this season will need a plan B when their first choice is not able to step up.

Puafisi has been a fantastic addition; the twenty five year old will push even Afoa for first choice. Shaun Knight can therefore resume his natural development. Behind Richard Hibbard, who will be away with Wales, we have Darren Dawidiuk and the developing Koree Britton.

It’s the front five not just the front row that Gloucester need to strengthen. At lock we have suffered, newly appointed captain Tom Savage has been out injured as was James Hudson for the start of the season.

Since Hudson’s return the Gloucester pack has seen a slight upturn in form with boy monster and burgeoning enforcer Elliott Stooke leading the way. Beyond that though there is just the veteran’s, veteran Will James.

Next season, the pack will be significantly bolstered by six foot eight, seventeen stone and eighteen cap Argentinian Mariano Galarza and Nigel Davies openly saying he will be joined by one more lock forward.

I’m disappointed that I didn’t notice quite how woefully unprepared Gloucester were, I was right when I said they had a talented backline, strength in depth in the back row and at scrum half. Talent in the front five was thin though, let alone any strength in depth.

Could they have better prepared for Freddie Burns' mental implosion followed by complete disinterest? In all areas the answer is yes.

I said at the start of this season that Gloucester’s time to upset a settled top four would be next season; in fact Ryan Walkinshaw has as good as put Nigel Davies job on the line and said this is a minimum.

If Gloucester signs an additional lock and fly half befitting the West Country club then they will have the strength in depth to do it. You only have to look at top four regulars Northampton, Leicester and Saracens to see how important a plan B is. This is what the Cherry and Whites should be aiming to emulate.