Tinds - back

By Cherry Picker
September 18 2009

Which Gloucester can we expect to see when they line up against Northampton at Kingsholm this weekend? Will it be the one that started the season in impressive style by beating Bath a fortnight ago, or the one that lost the match and much of its self-control in a hammering at London Irish last weekend? Coach Bryan Redpath expects  his players to produce a positive reaction to the Irish mauling, and the game will certainly provide a stern test of his squad’s character.
They failed their test last weekend, and will hopefully be desperate to demonstrate to Kingsholm fans that that game was a one-off below-par performance.
Four senior players are available again – skipper Mike Tindall and Peter Buxton after injury, Oliver Azam after suspension and Lesley Vainikolo (right) after the inconclusive end of his court case.
But Andy Hazell is out, banned for one game after being cited for a stamp in the Bath game, one of several cases of indiscipline in the opening two games which should perhaps be worrying Redpath.
However, the coach told the Citizen: "Andy's one against Bath was reckless, he was the first one to say that.
"He got a yellow card and he's been banned for one game which is fair enough, I have no problems with that.
"Delve's (late on at London Irish) was just a reaction to an incident. The line-out one I would agree with. You can't do that with the best referee in the world or the worst referee.
"But the other two you can sometimes get away with."
His last sentence is an illustration of the current outlook in rugby – professional teams will go to any lengths to win, as long as they aren’t caught going there.
On the game against the Saints, Redpath added: "We'll get a reaction, there's no question about that.
"Players were disappointed because the pre-season had gone very well. The four games prior to that had gone very well and then we get caught up in a game that we messed up in contact and set piece.”
If they mess up against Northampton, we could be in for a long, hard season. 

Four players return as Glaws aim to bounce back

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 18/09/2009 12:43

Shedloads
18/09/2009 12:43

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cheerycherry
18/09/2009 13:54

It is far too early to call it a "must win" game but Glaws need to restore confidence following last week and Saints will be a stern test.

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Two Sheds
18/09/2009 17:07

It's never too early, surely?

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Saint Morrissey
18/09/2009 22:03

We need to put in 2 good halves and not just one. If we do that and take our chances who knows. You looked really good against Bath but what happened at Irish???

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