Gloucester 2013/14 Thread

[HongKongCherry]

First topic message reminder :

In a wave of originality I've come up with the following unique thread...

Here's everything Glaws for this coming season:

Squad
Prop: Wood, Murphy, Harden, Knight, Y.Thomas
Hooker: Edmonds, Britton, Dawiduik, George
Locks: Savage, James, Lokotui, Hudson, Stooke
Backrow: Kalamafoni, Qera, Kvesic, B.Morgan, Hazell, Cox, Evans
Scrum Half: Cowan, Robson, Knoyle
Fly Half: F.Burns, Taylor, Bentley
Centres: Twelvetrees, Trinder, Tindall, Mills, Molenaar
Wings: Simpson-Daniel, May, Sharples, Monahan
Fullback: O.Morgan, Cook, M.Thomas

Academy (that could play a part):
Heard, Hicks, Moriarty, B.Burns, Reynolds

New Signings:
Hudson (Newcastle), Kvesic (Worcester), Bentley (Cornish Pirates), M.Thomas (re-signed), Puafisi, Young (Cardiff)

Re-Signed:
Kalamafoni, Twelvetress, Trinder, Cook, dawiduik, Stooke, Sharples, Sinbad

Leaving:
George (Worcester)
Britton (Saints)
Edmonds (TBC)
James (retiring)
Hazell (retiring)
Cox (Worcester)
Qera (Toulouse)
T.Young (Wasps)
Cowan (TBC)
Knoyle (Cardiff)
Burns (Tigers)
Bentley (TBC)
Taylor (retiring)
Mills (Worcester)
Molenaar (Quins)
Tindall (retiring)
O.Morgan (retiring)

Likely To Leave:
Harden
Lokotui
M.Thomas

Signed for 2014/15:
Hibbard (Ospreys)
Afoa (Ulster)
Galarza (Worcester)
Palmer (Wasps)
Laidlaw (Edinburgh)
A.Thomas (Scarlets)
Atkinson (Bedford)
Isaacs (Ospreys)
McColl (Leeds)

Likely Signings for 2014/15
Rowan (Leeds)
D.Thomas
Braley (Bristol)
Hooker x2




Confirmed Fixtrues (LV & HC tbc)
9 Aug Toulon  v  Gloucester L
24 Aug Munster    v  Gloucester L
30 Aug Gloucester v  Plymouth Albion W
30 Aug Gloucester  v  Scarlet W
7 Sep Gloucester  v  Sale Sharks L
15 Sep Saracens  v  Gloucester L
21 Sep Gloucester v  Northampton Saints W
29 Sep Newcastle Falcons  v  Gloucester W
6 Oct Gloucester v  Exeter Chiefs L
25 Oct Bath v Gloucester L
2 Nov Gloucester   v  London Wasps L
23 Nov Harlequins  v  Gloucester L
30 Nov Gloucester    v  Leicester Tigers L
21 Dec Gloucester    v  Worcester Warriors W
28 Dec London Irish  v  Gloucester W
4 Jan Gloucester    v  Saracens L
7 Feb Sale Sharks  v  Gloucester L
15 Feb Leicester Tigers  v  Gloucester L
22 Feb Gloucester    v  Harlequins W
1 Mar Northampton Saints  v  Gloucester L
22 Mar Gloucester    v  Newcastle Falcons W
29 Mar Exeter Chiefs  v  Gloucester W
12 Apr Gloucester    v  Bath L
19 Apr London Wasps  v  Gloucester L
3 May Gloucester    v  London Irish W
10 May Worcester Warriors  v  Gloucester L

[DaveM]

Nevermind Burns leaving, judging by yesterday losing Mills is a major mistake. He looks a well rounded and hugely promising player who will be wasted in the Championship.

[HongKongCherry]

Losing Mills wasn't a mistake; we wanted him to stay and offered him a contract. Wuss offered substantially more and offered regular game time. In the exact same way we lured 36 from Tigers, so Wuss have done so with Mills; he knew he would be behind 36 for much of the season and given how little games he has played in the last few years due to injury, you can understand him just wanting to get some game time.

[DaveM]

I think he made a compelling case for being your first choice 10. Just as Tigers surely regret letting Ford and Twelvetrees go (because it is a choice not to play someone), I think you'll regret letting Mills go - possibly more than losing Burns.

[HongKongCherry]

Mills has been very open about wanting to be a 12, so again similar to 36, we were restricting his play in his preferred position as we had a better player there. He has always played very well for us, so it is no surprise he is getting these plaudits, but there is a major concern over his long term fitness. I sincerely hope for him he proves our medical team wrong as he has the potential to be an outstanding player.

[LondonTiger]

Greg Laidlaw signing confirmed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26425233

Interesting to see which position he will be playing in.

[HongKongCherry]

Dougie has returned home to impart his vast knowledge. This is a hugely important signing and whilst any impact he can make this season will be welcome it does ensure that from next season we are going to be in a good place in the scrum.

I would expect further changes to the coaching set up with rumours of Shaun Edwards suggesting this will be in defence. Personally I'm not in favour of a part-time coach, but it may be he acts more as a consultant rather than lead coach. It didn't work for SE under that basis at Irish, so I would hope there is a different approach with us if the rumours prove true.

[HongKongCherry]

I thought I'd resurrect this thread. Next season's squad is looking quite promising. I'm not sure if it has the quality for top 4 yet, but we should hopefully see a significant improvement. As it stands this is what the squad looks like:

LH: Wood, Y.Thomas, Murphy
HK: Hibbard, Dawiduik, Britton - Edmonds & George to leave
TH: Afoa, Puafisi, Knight (expected to re-sign) - Harden to leave
LK: Stooke, Hudson, Galarza, Palmer, Hicks - James retiring & Lokotui to leave
BF: Kalamafoni, Savage, Moriarty
OF: Kvesic, Ludlow, TBC (hopefully Jacob Rowan) - Cox leaving & Hazell retired
N8: B.Morgan, Evans
SH: Robson, Broughton, TBC (hopefully Callum Braley) - Knoyle & Cowan to leave
FH: Laidlaw, A.THomas, B.Burns - F.Burns & Bentley to leave, Taylor retired
IC: 36, Atkinson, Tindall (expected to re-sign)
OC: Trinder, Isaacs
WG: May, Sharples, Sinbad, Monahan, M.Thomas (hopefully re-signs)
FB: Cook, McColl - O.Morgan retired

On paper I'd like to then see the following as the starting XV:
Y.Thomas, Hibbard, Afoa, Stooke, Galarza, Kalamafoni, Kvesic, Morgan, Robson, Laidlaw, May, 36, Trinder, Sinbad, Cook

Dawiduik, Wood, Knight, Palmer, Evans (or Rowan if we do sign him), Braley, A.Thomas/Atkinson, Sharples

With Dougie Woodman back on board the scrum should be far better, but we'll get no where unless the defence drastically improves. Moriarty may not leave, but he can't remain as defence coach after this season.

[Scrumpy]

Looks like you might make a game of it next year then.   

[HongKongCherry]

Looks like you might make a game of it next year then.   

We thought we'd do that this year too! I am optimistic but not expectant

[gregortree]

Looks like you might make a game of it next year then.   

We thought we'd do that this year too!  I am optimistic but not expectant

  Excited about our forwards signings, to hopefully improve the pack to feed our fast young backs much better.
This season - a wilderness year.
Next season - much improved or so we all expect (as Nelson expects).

[Scrumpy]

I guess the average age of the squad keeps rising with your new signings!   

Is Simon Shaw or Big Phil still playing?

[gregortree]

Hersh / Scrumpy
keep taking the cider, or is it the aqua vita at your posh spa town ? And you should age quite nicely.
  
As to Glos, the club is becoming a great blend of youthful talent and grizzled experience with which I am very happy.

[HongKongCherry]

I guess the average age of the squad keeps rising with your new signings!   

Is Simon Shaw or Big Phil still playing?

But that's no bad thing. We have a very low average age and the lack of experience has shown at times. A few more gnarled old heads certainly won't go a miss.

More to the point, we're just starting to find some form just as you seem to be losing a bit. It could make the next league game that little bit more interesting...

[Scrumpy]

Nothing wrong with a few old heads in the squad who knows maybe in a couple of seasons time you could sign Stringer.

[HongKongCherry]

Nothing wrong with a few old heads in the squad who knows maybe in a couple of seasons time you could sign Stringer.

The way we're going he'll still be too young for us!

[HongKongCherry]

On a completely different note. I noticed that a supporter was on the pitch after the final try but there was no mention of why. This now shows what happened; if only Freddie had been tackling like that all season!!

http://bcove.me/qifx7err

[gregortree]

On a completely different note.  I noticed that a supporter was on the pitch after the final try but there was no mention of why.  This now shows what happened; if only Freddie had been tackling like that all season!!

http://bcove.me/qifx7err

It's why Leicester want him.. his ferocious tackling. It was late (after the whistle) and borderline dump, with legs above hip.
In fact just what Leicester like to see.

[gregortree]

Scrumpy
Bad news for you Somerset folk:
(but you are welcome to pop over the border)
Drowned orchards could create cider drought
"As cider experts warn that this winters flooding may wreak havoc on the industry, West Country cider-drinkers begin to panic about the availability and price of their favourite tipple. Thousands of acres of orchards have been lost to the UK’s wettest winter since records began in 1910.Submersion underwater for periods of 14 days is enough to kill an apple trees roots, and needless to say, many areas have suffered flooding for a lot longer than this in the South West.
Gloucestershire cider makers have calmed the cider-guzzling masses by reassuring that this area does not seem to have been badly affected as most growers anticipated flooding and planted on higher ground. "

[Scrumpy]

I heared that the ground in Glawshire is full of shiote, or was that another kind of ground in Glaws?  

To be honest I don't think there are many Orchards on the levels!  

[HongKongCherry]

Hopefully the flooding affects the supply of that dish water Blackthorn, truly vile stuff. Yet Bath then go to the other extreme and serve 6X, which for mass produced stuff is rather good. Far better than the Worthington's we sell. The real ale we do flog is sold out by at least an hour before the match   

[gregortree]

The Doom Bar...brilliant ale.

[Scrumpy]

 

  

[gregortree]

Poor old Scrumpy.
I think he is trying to tell us he is parched in Somerset.
  
From floods to drought.
All tumbleweed, and cider crop ruined.

[Scrumpy]

I was looking forward to our SF in the Amlin, you let the west country down.  

[gregortree]

Oh well Scrumpy... come along Saturday instead with your team and have yourself a Doom Bar.
I'll be in Spain, so sadly will miss it, otherwise I'd buy you that pint in the Kingsholm.

[Scrumpy]

Koree Britton!   
 
http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-rugby-hooker-Koree-Britton-cautioned/story-20947839-detail/story.html

[Geordie]

Oh well Scrumpy... come along Saturday instead with your team and have yourself a Doom Bar.
I'll be in Spain, so sadly will miss it, otherwise I'd buy you that pint in the Kingsholm.

Lovely pint...

[Scrumpy]

Bath   team  vs Glaws   
 
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Matt Banahan
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Micky Young
1. Paul James
2. Ross Batty
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Carl Fearns
8. Leroy Houston
 
Replacements
16. Tom Dunn
17. Nathan Catt
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Dominic Day
20. Guy Mercer
21. Peter Stringer
22. Gavin Henson
23. Anthony Watson

[Scrumpy]

Justice was done there, disgrace.

[EnglishReign]

Justice was done there, disgrace.

Do me a favour, love.

[Scrumpy]

You'll get docked points for the scrum farce!   

Bath were penalised for a glaws red card, what a joke!

[EnglishReign]

Don't know what Knoyle was thinking tbh - glad he's going. Burns, likewise.

[yappysnap]

A y one else see Abendanon punch a Glos player in the face during that final dust up? I was amazed the ref missed it as it was on the replays

[LondonTiger]

A y one else see Abendanon punch a Glos player in the face during that final dust up? I was amazed the ref missed it as it was on the replays

Yup saw that. It was after Knoyle unloaded, but a different player. Even so he took a big run-up and unloaded on someone - he will be lucky if that was not his last match for Bath. Waiting for Full Replay to check some other stuff - Guardian feels Fearns will be cited - I thought Attwood was lucky not to receive a second yellow for slapping. Edmonds after the latter had been sin-binned

[Bristolian]

Watched the game feeling quite jealous we're no longer part of those West Country clashes - the quality was mostly dreadful but the entertainment was cracking!

By the end, I was actually laughing in pure surprise, I've honestly never seen anything like it. I was wondering if there is a cut-off point in terms of players left on the pitch at which point the match is abandoned. I have a vague memory of reading somewhere that in Soccer if a team is reduced to 7 players the game is abandoned (could be a false memory though). Does anyone know if this is the case?

Oh Yappy, LT, I saw that too - on the replay though it didn't look like anything worth following up. Think a few other players could be in trouble though for the dust up.

Finally, I'd echo what Healy said re. the ref - cack for the first 70, killed the game, then absolutely spot on for the last 10.

[HongKongCherry]

Justice was done there, disgrace.

HERSHY your standard of wum has really fallen. Back to school for you until you can wum properly.

[HongKongCherry]

I've no complaints over that result, well done Bath

I don't buy into the whole Murphy cheating angle. We arguably had the dominant scrum until then so it had a negative impact on us. Murphy has never played TH for us and when we had a TH crisis at the beginning of the season he wasn't used there.

It is a shame that Wigglesworth ruined the game but he got all the card decisions right. If only Sharples had caught that ball it would have been a famous victory! Unfortunately it has been soured by Knoyle's behaviour. That'll be the last game he plays for us and rightly so.

[Ozzy3213]

Murphy has played TH for us before though HKC.

[HongKongCherry]

That may be the case but he hasn't played or trained there for at least 3 years. TH is far too technical a role to have him play there and remain safe. Besides we had the dominant scrum so it penalised us more.

[Scrumpy]

[Jimpy]

Glaws (and evidently some of their supporters at the match) ought to be ashamed of themselves for that collective display. Some advert for the game that...
 
Neither side's cause was helped by Wigglesworth, who ironically policed the unforgivable brawling by both sides pretty much correctly.

[HongKongCherry]

Rather harsh choice of words Jimpy. The only thing the team has to be ashamed of is Knoyle's actions. He has been wildly condemned for his behaviour. In time it will be a forgiveable act; afterall you forgave Manu did you not?

I'm not trying to defend anyone rather just get a sense reality.

Our "fans" in the otherhand you can't defend. Mrs Burns shouldn't have been sworn at and regardless of his performance there is absolutely no excuse for the bottle thrown at Wigglesworth. I am hopeful that as it was a plastic bottle of pop it was the actions of some mindless youth who can be taught proper behaviour; if it was an adult then a lifetime ban is the only punishment fit for the idiot.

[Jimpy]

Rather harsh choice of words Jimpy. The only thing the team has to be ashamed of is Knoyle's actions. He has been wildly condemned for his behaviour. In time it will be a forgiveable act; afterall you forgave Manu did you not?
I'm not trying to defend anyone rather just get a sense reality.

Our "fans" in the otherhand you can't defend. Mrs Burns shouldn't have been sworn at and regardless of his performance there is absolutely no excuse for the bottle thrown at Wigglesworth. I am hopeful that as it was a plastic bottle of pop it was the actions of some mindless youth who can be taught proper behaviour; if it was an adult then a lifetime ban is the only punishment fit for the idiot.

Anybody punching Ashton can be forgiven. Probably for much worse actually....

[HongKongCherry]

They've found the bottle thrower. It was a young lad on tour who wasn't even a Glaws supporter! Thanks for bringing shame on our club. He should be publicly flogged the little squirt.

[HongKongCherry]

I've updated the initial post. It really doesn't make pretty reading. Whilst I would have liked Nigel Davies to stay on, it is difficult to defend our performance this year.

[gregortree]

HKC
I'd like to draw a veil on this awful season.
--- new thread 2014/15 ?
Some great new signings to talk about, hope for new season etc
Gloucester Welsh etc ?

[HongKongCherry]

What season is it you refer to gregor? I have no recollection of any game since losing 39-40 to Exeter...

I go into next season with a huge amount of optimism and expectation and a strong sense of deja vu! Unlike the start of this season, despite the players we've signed I do not expect us to finish in the top 4. I think we should be a top 6 side, but the top 5 of this season are all pretty much improving their squads too and it'll be a very tough ask to break into that group for at least 12 months. Quite frankly, as long as we see some decent rugby and win more games than we lose at Kingsholm I'll be happy! I don't have delusions of grandeur that we have a divine right to silverware; for me this is very much an addition to why I watch rugby. if we get it then great, but it's the 22+ games leading up to it I'm most interested in.

[gregortree]

We could talk about James Hook ?

[HongKongCherry]

I have to say, I am delighted with his signing and will happily eat humble pie and look for the flock of flying pigs! Hook, Afoa and Hibbard are truly international class players who will add huge levels of experience and nous, which at times this season we've definitely lacked. Roll on September

[gregortree]

HK-- start a new thread !
BTW - has Hook been confirmed ?

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