Perhaps the most interesting remarks were made by the Glos coach Dean Ryan. He has never been one for given credit where it is not due, especially to the opposition, but his remarks that Saints were perhaps a better side than the score suggested and they were up against his team at the top of their game should be taken note of before we get too down in the dumps over the result.

In fact we probably should not get too much hung up on these on the road results in case it becomes a millstone around our necks and yet more ammunition for the doom mongers. Perhaps we supporters always expect a little too much too soon and some too ready to jump on any chink in the armour but the harsh reality might be that our next tangible chance of an away victory might not come until we visit Worcester in March. Of course that might change and quickly (and we all hope it does) but with us still being a work in progress and this season about consolidation in the GP more than anything else perhaps we should not put too much weight too soon on the current inability to come away with the spoils on our travels. If anything, as has been mentioned before, it will be our home form that defines the season.

It may not be the GP this week but that 18 month home record still stands and will be no doubt be defended with vigour as we take on Bristol in the European Challenge Cup. It is two down three to go in our five game series with Bris this season and a good showing in the double header over the next two weekends could see us a long way towards quarter final qualification in the ECC. Currently sitting six points clear in Pool Two, and with the other two sides Toulon and Montpellier having a double header of their own over the next two weeks, victories over Bristol could see us all but qualify before the final two games come round in January 09.

It will be interesting to see what kind of team Bristol put out. After the defeat down at the Memorial Ground three weeks ago Bris coach Richard Hill stated that Saints would struggle this season as they were competing on three fronts the GP, ECC and EDF Cup. Now whether that's a large slice of kidology and he is trying to lull us into a false sense of security over the two European games remains to be seen but if you take Hill at his word then we may well see a shadow of the side that defeated us in November. Perhaps given his limited resources in his position its prudent to cut your cloth to suit and not overstretch your squad by being involved at the quarter final stage whilst ensuring one of your perceived rivals in the using Hills words ‘relegation dogfight' are stretching theirs. Do I believe him, nope not for a minute. Whilst we might see a few players rested whatever Bristol team is selected will be all out to win because just like us they know if they do indeed survive in the GP next year they know that this is their best shot at a Heineken Cup place and all the financial rewards that brings. For a club in Bristol 's current plight they would be mad not to have a tilt at it.

But when that is all said and done we are in the qualification driving seat and whilst Jim Mallinder might opt to rest one or two I would expect us to be putting out a fairly strong squad to try and sew this one up before Christmas.

Whilst we are on the subject of the ECC, in the days following the game down in Bristol next weekend the date should be confirmed for our game out in Montpellier . As I have said before I know the place fairly well and next week I will have the info on travel, accommodation etc. for all you independent travellers. It may be in darkest January but what better way to banish those winter blues.

As I said earlier I was not at Gloucester on Saturday, instead I made the trek to Twickenham for the England v All Blacks game. Whilst the great and the good at the RFU are pleading patience for the Martin Johnson and his coaches is it just me or was there any progress made at all over the four Autumn internationals? Sure some new talent may have emerged in the likes of Delon Armitage but to me overall England looked like they lacked decision makers in key areas, leadership and above all tactical nous. How often on Saturday did they get in a threatening position to give away exactly the same penalty?

Again the same old tired excuses were coming out from the same old tired faces. But we have heard it all before and the excuse that it the clubs fault for importing players is starting to wear thin when the truth of the matter is England can select far more qualified players than any other home union.

Again we seem to be going around in the same old viscous circle. Cast the blame elsewhere and then perhaps people might not realise some of those coaches serving under Johnson are not up to the job. On a four year Rugby World Cup cycle keep that blame culture up long enough and your chances of competing with the big boys (remember when we were one of them?) gets less and less. I hope they turn it around, I really do, but I can see the very same results happening next November and another year lost.

One other talking point from Saturday was the Haka. In recent years the All Blacks pre game war dance has changed from one of the traditions of the game into something altogether different. From what happened to Brian O'Driscoll on the Lions tour, to the new Kapa o Pango haka with its throat slitting to the All Blacks doing it in their dressing room because Wales dared to ask them if they could sing afterwards. The final straw in a lot of peoples eyes was the comments from Nonu last week about people not giving it due respect after Wales (again) stared the All Blacks down at haka time and how it could have led to a fight. Graham Henry came up with the respect line too but then building a siege mentality as a coach probably does no harm, Nonu on the other hand sounded like a teenager bigging himself up for a brawl outside the local shops. To be fair to the people of New Zealand not many came out in support of those comments and even All Blacks legend Zinzan Brooke said his compatriots were getting too precious about the whole thing.

So how would the English react? Come Saturday and knowing how many non-rugby people get to Twickenham and some over indulgence by the rugby fraternity that do I fully expected to hear booing once the actions began, but no. As the England side faced up to the opposition going through their routine around 80,000 singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot at the top of their voices seemed a very apt reply in itself. The England team did not have to do anything, the crowd did it for them. I have been to Twickenham a fair few times, those two minutes were by far the most atmospheric, it was a special moment.

So in reply to the haka, either crowds as in England or teams as in Wales last week, each should be allowed a riposte. For the All Blacks, accept these reactions as accepting your challenge and, pardon the pun, stop making such a big song and dance about it. Long may it continue!

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