Big Les - needs games

By Cherry Picker
August 19 2009

Gloucester go into their second pre-season warm-up game against Irish side Connacht at Kingsholm on Saturday looking to find the sort of form they will need when the Guinness Premiership season kicks off two weeks later and with coach Bryan Redpath admitting that he needs to sign two players before the big kick-off. In the 19-all draw with Bath last weekend, there were some encouraging signs for the future from a few of Gloucester’s younger players.
Whether that future is next month or next season remains to be seen, but the chances are that the likes of Freddie Burns and Jonny May need time to reach their full potential and being thrown in at the deep end when they lack experience and strength is fraught with danger.
Redpath admits that the loss of Seru Rabeni because he is not fit leaves gaps in the Glaws back line, made worse by niggling injuries to Olly Morgan and Henry Trinder.
The coach told the Citizen: “There's no question we are light in the backline at the moment. We have to fill it, probably with two players.
“That's a challenge for me to go out there and find them over the next three or four days.
"Olly Morgan and Nicky Robinson have come back in, but we will certainly look to strengthen over the next week or so."
Let's hope at least one of the new boys is a kicker.
Another player making a comeback is Lesley Vainikolo, the big winger desperate to make his mark after being out for seven months with his achilles injury.
He admits he was rusty in the Bath game, but says that he needs a few games to get himself right. He told the Citizen: "We've been training hard in pre-season and we pulled everything together. We're coming good."
Let’s hope you’re right, Big Les. 

Redpath looking for new faces as season approaches

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 19/08/2009 10:38

Shedloads
19/08/2009 10:38

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cheerycherry
20/08/2009 02:22

Glaws need another goalkicker. Whether it is a goalkicking 12 or a goalkicking 15, either would do right now! I am guessing the new signing(s) will be Southern Hemisphere lads because all the European based players are signed up for next season? Wonder if there is anyone at Quins now they have a very big fine to pay?

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