Gloucester CEO pens open letter implying Skivington is fixing Ackermann era errors
The CEO of Gloucester Rugby has suggested that new head coach George Skivington is mending the errors of the Johan Ackermann era at the Gallagher Premiership club.
Despite being highly rated in coaching circles, the relatively inexperienced Skivington was a surprise choice for Gloucester when they went to the market to replace former Springbok Johan Ackermann, who left the club for Japan earlier this year.
Lance Braley addressed fans in an open letter on their website, updating followers of the Cherry and Whites on the progress the club have made in recent months.
“As you know, we finished the 19-20 season in 7th place, up from 9th pre-lockdown. We had always said that the final post-lockdown games would provide a great opportunity for our new coaching team, under George Skivington, to get a good look at our squad and see what we needed to do to get where we all want to be – challenging for trophies.
“It’s fair to say that some of our results were very pleasing, while others were certainly less so. But I can tell you that we learned a lot, and this has given us a clear view of where we need to improve. It also meant that we made full use of our whole squad, including some of our Senior Academy players. There were a number of players who may not ordinarily have had such a good chance to show what they can do who have most certainly made a strong case for their inclusion in George’s future squad selection.
“With the 20/21 season kicking off in only two weeks’ time, games coming up every weekend throughout the season and our international players away for a significant period of time, squad depth is going to be an important factor.
“There’s no doubt that George and his new coaching team have already made some noticeable improvements. Our pack has looked significantly better, and while pre-lockdown we were one of the worst teams in terms of giving away penalties, post-lockdown there was only one team who conceded fewer penalties than we did.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but these are good signs.”
Gloucester have however been forced to put plans for a new training ground on hold for the immediate future as they struggle to deal with the financial fallout of the pandemic and its implications for rugby.
“Many of you were kind enough to donate towards the costs of our new training ground, and thank you again for that.
“The money that was donated has been ring-fenced for use on the new facilities, but the financial impact of not being allowed fans into Kingsholm has meant that we have had to revisit the timings of our development plans.
“We do still intend to build a fantastic new facility, and we have identified a site, but financial constraints mean that we are not in a position to proceed with the development within the time frames originally planned.
“We will therefore develop an interim training facility at Kingsholm, which we will use until we are able to move into the all-new facilities.
“We will share full details of our plans once all the details have been tied up.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments