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One could argue that with hindsight this was very much a season of transition for Gloucester. After the disappointment of the previous season, The club were to step into a season of unknown with Dean Ryan taking the helm, many were cynical of his appointment and saw the appointment as a cost cutting measure. There were also some new signings with the arrival of Haydn Thomas, Mike Tindall, Rob Thirlby, Pete Richards, Quinton Davids, Anthony Allen and the Arrival off Brian Redpath as Ryan's assistant . Also were some not so new signings with Mercier and Collazo returning to their second home.
Despite the poor showing last season, a slight optimism was emerging in Gloucester, after all there was no way the club could have as poor a season as the year before. One thing was certain a new discipline was placed on the club, Henry Paul was reduced to the stands for most of the season for non attendance for missing training. Richards also paid the price for a heavy night out during Tindalls birthday and would not feature for a few weeks. Garvey also seemed to have crossed Ryan had little more than a bit part role during the season. His place would go to Mark Foster, who has had a tough time proving he belongs in the side and seems to have many detractors.
In spite of some off the field antics the club had a steady start to the season. A dull 15-15 all draw to Worcester got the season started, With Ludo showing what we'd missed from his boot the previous season (including a 60 yard penalty.) A shocking "tackle" from Hickey would also led to Balding being out for the most of the start of the season. This was followed up with the narrowest of wins over Sale at Kingsholm, with a penalty try being awarded at the death, following Glaws camping out on the Sale line for a good 10 mins and 2 Sale players being sent to the bin. In honesty it was another poor 80 mins, in which Sale were probably marginally the better side. A lot of work was needed, although Hazell was already showing signs of the form that would led him to the player of the season award. The next game saw Glaws thump Bristol 9-41, a good result considering Bristol's good start to the season. A number of silly mistakes and penalties prevented a bigger winning margin. Still 3 games in and Gloucester were undefeated.
King Carlos and Northampton were the next to roll into town, Glos again just having enough to edge out winners 28-24. Again The team made hard work of it and could off won comfortably. The game overshadow by the always controversial issue of uncontested scrums, and monkey boys neck injury. Wins over the Ospreys and Bristol followed in the revamped Powergen cup.
The biggest test of the season came at the Rec, and Gloucester clearly failed. Despite Bath being down to 14 men for most of the game and at one point 13, Glos never looked like winning the game and slumped into the mediocrity of the previous season. Bath would run out 18-16 winners. This was followed by a 10-26 win over Bayonne and a 106-3 win over Bucuresti in the European Challenge cup. These games would provide many fans with there first glimpses of Olly Morgan and Anthony Allen, although given the opposition in was hard to gauge there performances.
Gloucester's return to premiership action saw them run out 27-20 victors over Newcastle. Both sides missing key players due to the autumn internationals. Anthony Allen however stepped up and looked comfortable on his premiership debut. Olly Morgan too showing he had the potential to cut it in the premiership, looking comfortable under the high ball, and obviously attended the Chris Catling school of tackling fullbacks. After his return from injury Morgan would make the 15 shirt his own and Goodridge, as good a player as he is has a fight on his hands to win it back. One worrying sign however was Ludos lack off consistency with the boot.
A visit to Welford road saw Glos come away with a bonus point, and left many wondering how we came so close after being so outplayed? Olly Morgan again was solid at fullback, although our other youngster Allen found life against Olly Smith more of a challenge, although he combined with Sinbad to score a truly class try. A comfortable win by Irish 25-10 saw Gloucester slump to 7th in the table and another poor season was on the cards.
A solid performance in front of the Shed saw Glos overcome Saras 19-8, With a solid performance from young Elloway and Wood in the front row. Hazell was everywhere as always, Thomas performed solid at scrum half, and Foster had a solid display on the wing. The following weeks saw Gloucester bow out the cup and win comfortable against Toulon in Europe, at home and away
A narrow defeat away to Wasp followed, where some signs of promise again where shown, before a comfortable home win over Leeds. A dire game at Saras saw Gloucester dig out a rare away win. Suddenly we were heading in the right direction up the table, and also win our final two European Games to qualify comfortably top of the group.
A poor showing and defeat to Irish damped the sprits though, and we went into the game against Leicester unconfident, missing key players and rudderless. However the floodlit Kingsholm is one of the greatest rugby venues in the world, many special nights have taken place under these circumstances and what followed was no exception.
In a result that no one suspected given recent results, Glos turn Leicester over 34-16. Glos produced there first real committed and passionate display of the season. A jet lagged Simon Amor coming into the side at the last minute being one of the stand out performers. A solid performance was also given by a makeshift centre combination of Keil and Fanolua. Despite a solid performance by Keil, very little has been seen of him since. The front row were outstanding, destroying Leicester at several set pieces, Nick Wood coming off the bench to play a key role in the scum which eventually led to our penalty try. James Forrester also began to play with a commitment and drive in the pack not previously seen, and he has got better as the season has gone on. Ryan has long demanded more from the talented Forrester, and he is starting to respond. A scrappy game in Newcastle the following weak saw Glos scrape out another away win.
Once again however, in a game where Glos fans expect nothing less than 100% commitment from the players, Gloucester produced another awful performance resulting in Bath attaining three victories over their west country rivals. A moment of madness from Ludo, after a brilliant intercept, when he wouldn't release a pass for Simpson-Daniel prevented Gloucester stealing a victory they really didn't deserve. Whether this was a factor in the changes that followed is not clear, but it had an impact in Ludo finding himself on the bench in later games. My memory fails my exactly when but around this time Dennis Betts arrived at the club as skills/Defence coach and he too would have an impact on the season
A one point defeat at Franklins Gardens followed and the Leicester game was fast becoming a distant memory. Would it prove to be another false dawn at Gloucester? Another youngster was brought into the fold at this time though, Young Jack Forster came off the bench, he to was to have a promising end to the season.
That promise showed for all of 10 minutes against Bristol, before normal service soon returned and Gloucester again put in another poor performance. A lack of leadership was evident this season and it really showed in this game. More worrying a spate of injuries and suspensions left us with some doubt as to our ability to even have a front row in the next game. Ludo again had another poor game, now when he's on his territory making kicks are a vital asset, but the last few games it was clear that the guy was low on confidence and Glos as a whole were suffering as a result.
A different Glos took the field in the next game, although the standard of the competition Brive, in the ECC, were not of the level we'd been playing recently so it was difficult to access the result on its own merits, although their were promising signs. Lamb looked solid in his first start. And with a centre partnership of Allen and Tinall the backs appeared much more balanced.
Their certainly was a big step up in the level of opposition in the next game, when the team travel up to Sale. With more than half the team under 25, it look as though Dean Ryan was fielding a experimental side, and had given up on this season. How wrong an assumption that proved to be and the side certainly made Sale work for their 18-15 victory. Lamb was solid in his place kicking and the side certainly showed ambition looking to attack when the opportunities presented themselves. sadly Sales experience and teamwork saw them home in the end. Ironically, Ludo was brought on to close out the game and his miss at the end of the game cost us a draw. Sadly this was to repeat itself later in the season.
Back to back games against Worcester, In the league and the ECC, followed. The league game saw Glos run out 27-16 winners, again a youthful side took to the field, and fulfilled on some of the promise they started to show in earlier games. Although we made hard work of it with knock on ending many a promising move from our young back line. Anthony Allen showed flashes of brilliance, for 10 minutes of the first half it seemed like Worcester couldn't lay a hand on him. For the first time this season when they went behind and all must have thought a repeat of the Bristol and Bath games was to follow, the guys turned the screw and ground out a well deserved win.
The lads continue with the promise of the last few weeks in the ECC game against Worcester, but again Wors made us work for it. Like the league encounter this was an intensely fought game, with both sides capable of winning. Once again Lamb led an exciting back line, that looked to run it at any opportunity. A superb step from Lamb, allowed Simpson-Daniel to gallop in for the first try. After that Allen showed his skill to cross the line for Glaws second score. Worcester however fought back manfully, and Sanderson scored just before the break to see Wuss go in with the led. Ludo to came off the bench and showed signs of an uplift in his form. The game was decided in the closing stages with a Lamb Cross field kick which Foster gathered to score. Gloucester were through to the final.
In the closing stages of the league, Glos secured a bonus point victory at already relegated Leeds, to set up a winner takes all encounter with Wasps, the victors season would continue into the play offs. With Heineken cup rugby already secured for next season, Gloucester went into the game with nothing to lose. In one of the best games of rugby I've seen in a long time, with some memorable trys scored, Glos showed what we could be in for next season. Wasps to their credit showed their class and why they were champions to earn a hard-fought victory and a shot at the title. Make no mistake though, Gloucester pushed them all the way and showed real fighting spirit to come back for 8-20 down at half time. The sight of Sinbad turning Lawrence inside out will stay with me for a long time. The main criticism of the side from this game was our inability to control the game at the end and shut Wasps out.
The season ended in a high note however, with a highly entertaining extra time victory over London Irish in the European Championship cup. The youngsters have their first taste of silverware and will be gunning for more.
To sum up this was a season of two halves, if you remember how despondent we were at the start of the season, now think how confident we are. We're back in the Heineken cup, which can only further the development of our young lads, and with the arrival of the Italians, we will have a pack to match anyone. The future looks bright and I'm looking forward to next season already. Dean Ryan deserves credit for giving the lads their opportunity and for building a side that plays for one and other, possessing the old Gloucester dog but with skill to add to the mix. You only have to look at how much the ECC meant to the lads to see there playing for each other.
Now here's hoping for a fortress at home next season, Quarter Finals at least of the Heineken cup, and maybe just maybe that elusive win at the wreck.....
Ruthless Russ
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