Azam - 12 weeks

By Cherry Picker
October 7 2009

As if Gloucester’s early-season results and overall inconsistent form aren’t enough to worry coach Bryan Redpath as he tries to make a name for himself, his team’s disciplinary record is even worse. Excuses can be offered, and fingers can be pointed at opponents for their part in the incidents, but there’s no getting away from the fact that Gloucester’s record is appalling. Olivier Azam’s situation is a perfect illustration – just back from a nine-week ban, he has now been suspended for the maximum 12 weeks after the now infamous Steve Borthwick incident in the game against Saracens last month.
Azam admitted the offence, though he insisted there was no intent, and the ban means he won’t play again until next year unless there’s a successful appeal against the sentence.
To make matters worse, Adam Eustace has also been banned for three weeks after he admitted stamping in the same game.
Fans appear to be split, though no necessarily evenly, over Azam – some say he was sorely provoked by Borthwick, who appeared to be holding and twisting his ankle, while others say that this latest ban is the last straw and it’s time for him to go.
Either way, nobody can hide from the truth: as a team, Gloucester don’t appear to be able to handle the pressure of losing.
There was never this problem with discipline when they were in the winning habit, and while we all know that it’s always harder to take defeat than it is to enjoy a win, that is no excuse.
There’s even a danger now that both players and fans will start to think everybody's against them and adopt the “Carry On” approach – “Infamy, infamy … they’ve all got it in for me.”
Like it or not, Glaws now have a reputation for being bad boys and there’s a danger that opposition tactics will be based on the assumption that Glaws just don’t like it up ‘em.
The next test of the team’s discipline comes at Kingsholm on Friday night against Newport Gwent Dragons, who are in mid-table in the Magners League with three wins and two defeats in their five games – they are not the pushovers they once were.

Azam ban underlines Gloucester bad record

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 07/10/2009 11:29

Shedloads
07/10/2009 11:29

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