Skivington warns his improved Gloucester side that 'ultimate test' awaits

Gloucester boss George Skivington has dubbed Friday’s visit to Kingsholm by back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners Bordeaux Bègles as the ultimate test for his new-look side.

The Cherry and Whites have started the Gallagher PREM season well, with a win at Exeter Chiefs and a 48-0 drubbing of Harlequins before digging deep to take two bonus points from last weekend’s trip to Leicester Tigers.

But he knows the challenge from a Bordeaux side, who have beaten Northampton Saints and Leinster in the last two finals, will be dialled up a level and will be as close to Test rugby as some of his side will face.

“We’re excited because it’s a great evening at Kingsholm. We know the challenge we’ve got on the field because we know how dangerous they are. But ultimately, we get an opportunity to put our game to the ultimate test.

“Some of our players get to play against, effectively, what’s a Test rugby team. And because it is week four of the season, it’s still early in the season. So, we’re still getting to grips with our game.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Gloucester

19:00

16 Oct 26

Bordeaux

All Stats and Data

“So we think it’s an exciting opportunity just to get our game out there. It’s the first game of the Champions Cup and an opportunity to have an exciting evening. I think, you know, we saw a few areas at Welford Road last weekend that didn’t go well.

“We’ve discussed at length about why we didn’t quite get it right. I don’t think we’re not good enough to do that. I think we just didn’t target those areas well enough for whatever reason.

“It is the ultimate test. These guys have beaten everybody home or away to get to the point where they’ve won back-to-back titles. So it’s pretty impressive. But it’s the ultimate test, and we’ll embrace it, put our game out there,” he told RugbyPass.

Skivington has called upon Gloucester fans, especially the Shed, to make Bordeaux’s players feel as uncomfortable as possible with an electric atmosphere.

“We need them Friday night, 100%. I think this needs to be as hostile as it possibly can be for Bordeaux coming over, and I think, when our players have moments in the game, whether that’s defensive or attack, whenever Kingsholm erupts and gets behind the lads.

“We want it. Like, you can feel it in the air. We need our supporters, really loud and passionate on Friday night for sure,” added the Cherry and Whites boss.