By Lawrence Aggleton
August 31 2008

Head Coach: Dean Ryan

EPS Players: 3 (Olly Barkley, James Simpson-Daniel, Luke Narraway)

Last Season GP: 1st, (Lost SF Vs Tigers)

Last Season Europe: HC QF

European Group (HC): Biarritz, Calvisano, Blues

Pre-Season: @ Bayonne L Vs Glasgow First Four: Vs Tigers @ Bath Vs Quins @ Sale

Big Outs: Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Leon Lloyd (retired)

Big Ins: Olly Barkley (Bath), Greg Somerville (Canterbury)

Key Man: Marco Bortalami

What to say about Gloucester? They seem to continually cruise through most seasons and then just fail to perform in the big games. Their HC QF loss at home to Munster last season was poor but just about acceptable, the capitulation in the premiership semi to Tigers was not. Barkley and Somerville are excellent experienced acquisitions, although you can't help feeling that they're still weak at lock. Another failure this year and Dean Ryan must fear for his job.

Premiership: The strongest squad on paper, they need to win games when under mental pressure. A big opportunity in week 2 at Bath, where they've still never won in the league. A win there would bode well for crunch games later on. Prediction: 1st and Champions

Europe: With their squad and HC group, the later stages are a must. Prediction: HC SF