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George Skivington on facing the Sharks in Challenge Cup final
George Skivington says that Gloucester will be braced for “a massive challenge” when they tackle South African heavyweights The Sharks in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup final.
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Gloucester booked a place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24 after beating Italian challengers Benetton 40-23.
The West Country club were Challenge Cup winners in 2006 and 2015, although they lost to Cardiff on their last final appearance six years ago.
Sharks edged past semi-final opponents Clermont Auvergne 32-31, and Gloucester rugby director Skivington said: “I expected them to win today.
“They have got a lot of superstars and play a really tough brand of rugby. It is a massive challenge, there are a lot of big players in that team.
“It’s huge for the club. We want to go to finals, win trophies and be in knockout stages of competitions.
“We have put ourselves in a position to have a shot at another one, but we have got a fierce opposition and we are going to have to be very ready for it.”
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Fly-half Adam Hastings was the architect of Gloucester’s triumph, contributing 17 points through a try, three conversions and two penalties on one of his last home appearances before rejoining Glasgow this summer.
Full-back Josh Hathaway, hooker Seb Blake, lock Freddie Clarke and wing Ollie Thorley also touched down, while scrum-half Caolan Englefield kicked a penalty 10 minutes from time.
Benetton, Challenge Cup semi-finalists last term, pushed Gloucester hard as hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi (2) and full-back Rhyno Smith scored tries – Tomas Albornoz added two penalties and a conversion – but two tries in four minutes midway through the second period gave the home side breathing space.
Skivington added: “Adam was brilliant. He is moving on next season, but he has been great for us and will do whatever it takes for the team.
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“We gave him a really strong game-plan this week, and he led that really well.”
Gloucester have two Gallagher Premiership games left before the final, but they cannot finish any higher than ninth in the table.
“There is a balance of having to play some rugby and be rested as well,” Skivington said.
“We are still going to try and win them (Premiership games), but ultimately I will use the Premiership to make sure we are best prepared for the final, and give some young players opportunities.
“It doesn’t mean we won’t be ripping into the two remaining Premiership games.”
Benetton will now turn their attention to sealing a place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs after making a second successive Challenge Cup semi-final exit.
“We had plenty of opportunities, but execution let us down,” Benetton head coach Marco Bortolami told TNT Sports.
“We had two or three moments when we applied pressure, but dropped the ball. Overall, they (Gloucester) are a very experienced team, and we are still learning.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Fellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
5 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
1 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
5 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
5 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
3 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to comments