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Injury-hit Gloucester monstered by Lyon

By PA
Lyons French lock Felix Lambey (C) challenges Ollie Altkins (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Gloucester conceded the most points in their Heineken Champions Cup history as they started the new campaign with a 55-10 hammering at the hands of Lyon.

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Head coach George Skivington named a weakened Cherry and Whites side with nine players injured and a host of other first-choice stars absent.

His team paid the price by conceding 50 points for the first time in European competition as Lyon secured only their second win at the highest level.

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Gloucester were 26-10 down at the break with Seb Nagle-Taylor scoring their try, but they also conceded four scores as Lyon wrapped up a first-half bonus point.

In the end the French side were convincing winners with wing Xavier Mignot scoring three of their eight efforts.

Lyon began brightly with a dangerous early attack, but they were hit by the loss of flanker Loann Goujon who left the field for a head injury assessment after a heavy blow in contact.

It did not stop Mignot from opening the scoring for the French side. After a series of carries with Mathieu Bastareaud at the heart of things, Mignot crossed for the inevitable try.

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The conversion was added by fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski.

Mignot came close to a second when he tried to get on the end of a loose kick ahead as Goujon returned to the field. It was already looking too easy for Lyon as Gloucester’s forwards struggled.

The French pack looked like they would score close to the posts on several occasions, but the ball was spread left to give wing Noa Nakaitaci an easy finish.

Mignot sent Australian lock Izack Rodda over for a third try and the conversion made it 19-0 in as many minutes.

Gloucester hit back with their first attack.

A line-out to the back involved Jamie Gibson and the end result was number eight Nagle-Taylor going over for a try which was improved by George Barton.

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Bastareaud started and finished Lyon’s bonus-point score which came from a line-out and saw Mignot heavily involved again.

Barton responded with a penalty while Jacob Morris was wide with a monster effort.

Lyon’s fifth try was the best of the lot.

From turnover ball, Baptiste Couilloud kicked ahead and collected before delivering a sumptuous offload.

Charlie Ngatai finished it off with Wisniewski converting and then kicking a penalty.

Brilliant work from Toby Arnold created a length-of-the-field French effort. Arnold broke clear, kicked ahead, and then offloaded to Mignot. The conversion went wide.

Another kick from Arnold allowed Mignot to dot down for his hat-trick and it was now getting ugly for Skivington’s side.

There was still time for Lyon flanker Dylan Cretin to complete the scoring with a stunning, side-stepping effort when he ran through the Gloucester midfield.

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A
Adrian 55 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

7 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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