Finally the obvious was performed when Henry Paul started at centre and and Thinus Delport got a start at his native fullback. And what a game Thinus Delport had. As well as setting up the first try he scored two of his own.
The first was scored after the South African broke away. The Gloucester forwards flew towards him in support and eventually James Forrester, also finally having a good game on a slightly dryer and harder pitch, managed to hold of various tacklers and go over in the corner.
Saracens were very flimsy. The team that was chosen was a bit of a joke in itself with Richard Hill starting on the bench. They were slow to the breakdowns and left wide open gaps. They played most of the game way too deep before finally becoming flatter towards the end.
Ludo again was having a bad day when it came to kicking between the posts, missing the first conversion. However, his kicks to touch were as ever brilliant, and with news of Jonny Wilkinson being seen around Kingsholm, he is going to really have to put the effort in in order to stay Gloucester's number one kicker.
It was Delport who scored the second try after two breaks by Henry Paul, who looked much more comfortable at centre. Although he still made a couple of handling errors and missed the odd tackle, he seemed to make space for his team mates by holding up the ball and could almost force gaps in the Saracens line.
Delport escaped down the right wing after attacking the ball with speed, and kicked in to space. He was first to the ball and kicked again, this time over the line, before diving on top to score. Ludo again missed the conversion, but was cheered anyway by the Gloucester fans, who showed that they still showed great support for the man whom some have blamed for not kicking a penalty at the end of the Munster match.
Then came a period of poor play from Gloucester who seemed to become a bit complacent as the noise from the crowd died down. Saracens scored their first try when Adryan Winnan chipped over the top and chased to go over. The Saracens fly half, Niki Little, also missed the conversion, although he brought Saracens within a two points with a penalty.
Gloucester carried on the try scoring through Terry Fanolua and Delport, who got his second. Soon after that Saracens got their second when Tom Shanklin scored brilliantly though he was helped when Tom Beim missed the easiest of tackles.
Half time score: Gloucester 23-8 Saracens
Sarries also went over again at the beginning of the second half. But it was Gloucester who continued to dominate trying their best to make up for the shambles the weak before. Nigel Melville said before the match that he wanted his side to speak through their actions, and they did so brilliantly.
Gloucester scored further tries through a fantastic move that that started and finished with Andy Gomarsall, and one from Adam Eustace. Mercier finally found his kicking boots slotting the conversions. Roncero was the next to score after Hazell had showed brilliant class by breaking away. Rodders ended up with ball and pinned his ears back to go after. He had also had a brilliant game in the loose.
Saracens scored another converted try through Richard Haughton, though it was only ever a consolation. Forrester finished the try feast that he had started, out pacing a Saracens prop put of his depth on the wing.
Gloucester will face Leicester in the next round of the cup on March 1st, at Franklin's Gardens.
Final Score: Gloucester 51-20 Saracens
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