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Four-try Ollie Hassell-Collins leaves Gloucester wilting
Wing Ollie Hassell-Collins scored four tries as London Irish continued their fine run of form with a 24-20 victory over Gloucester.
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After excellent victories at Northampton and Harlequins, Irish continued their impressive run to leapfrog Saturday’s visitors in the table and move into the top six.
Stephen Myler converted two with Gloucester responding with tries from Charlie Chapman, Louis Rees-Zammit and Ollie Thorley. Billy Twelvetrees added a penalty and a conversion as the injury-ravaged club crashed to a third league defeat in a row.
In the opening minutes, Danny Cipriani had two kicks charged down to gift Irish an early platform but the hosts failed to capitalise as they chose not to kick a simple penalty. Instead they opted for an attacking scrum but scrum half, Nick Phillips, was robbed of possession for Gloucester to breakaway and win a penalty which Twelvetrees kicked for a tenth minute lead.
The home side’s response was swift with first Franco van der Merwe being held up over the line before Phipps and Stephen Myler neatly combined to provide Hassell-Collins with an easy run-in. Minutes later, Hassell-Collins scored a second. Terence Hepetema and Albert Tuisue did the hard work before the wing brushed off a weak tackle from Chapman to force his way over in the corner.
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Myler again missed the conversion so Irish held a 10-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter with a penalty miss from Twelvetrees being only the notable event of a featureless period up to the interval.
Within three minutes of the restart, Hassell-Collins completed his hat-trick. Gloucester looked threatening in the Irish 22 but a lobbed pass from Twelvetrees was intercepted by the wing, who easily out-paced the cover defence to score.
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“My contract is up with the RFU at the end of the season… but I’m fit as I have ever been – that’s what my scores tell me”
– veteran match official Wayne Barnes talks to @heagneyl ahead of his latest Six Nations assignment #WALvFRA 🏴🇫🇷https://t.co/R6KYLJ5svz— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 22, 2020
Seven minutes later Gloucester scored their first try when, from a scrum close to the opposition line, the visitors’ pack drove forward to give Chapman the chance to sidestep a defender to score. That try was the impetus Gloucester needed and they soon scored a second. From another close range scrum, Cipriani showed sublime skills to draw in two defenders and allow Thorley to squeeze over in the corner.
Gloucester looked favourites for victory at that stage but their move broke down for Irish to capitalise and with swift handling created a fourth for Hassell-Collins. The visitors immediately replaced Cipriani with Lloyd Evans and they set up a tense finish when Rees-Zammit crossed with eight minutes remaining but Irish had just enough to hang on.
– Press Association
WATCH: England’s Eddie Jones and George Ford look ahead to Sunday’s Six Nations clash
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Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments