The Circus is Back in Town: Let the Gloucester-Hartpury Title Defence Commence
Roll up! Roll up! The circus is back in town, and you won’t want to miss this.
Last year, we were treated to a season which started with the conquering of Fortress Sandy Park, and ended with the cementing of ‘Queensholm’ into rugby vernacular – and pretty much took the direct route throughout.
Gloucester-Hartpury looked favourites from the get-go, and scarcely wavered as they carved through wave after wave of opposition towards glory: a cherry and white crusade, with Mo Hunt (scrunchie fluttering in the breeze) and Zoe Aldcroft at the helm, a carved figurehead of Sam Monaghan stealing a line-out on the prow, and Sean Lynn – in shorts. Always in shorts – orchestrating things from the crow’s nest.
The ingredients were all there: locally grown talents, big name signings, a thunderous pack, half-backs who knew when to play maverick and when to play master tactician, a back line with more verve than the whole cast of ‘Sex Education’, and the self belief to openly shoot for the stars.
Lynn was clear from the off: his side had been tasked with finishing top of the league, and then going on to win the whole thing – whilst having a blast, of course.
The jubilant scenes at the Premier 15s final on June 24th are the ones which make the early season montages now, but this was a side who genuinely relished the entire journey – who had a hoot making history.
‘The moment from that day which will stay with me forever,’ Lynn reflects over the phone, ‘was when my wife and kids ran out onto the pitch after the game. Having my family there was pretty special. Those moments of togetherness are what sport is all about, and that was the last thing I told the girls that season: “This memory will be with you for the rest of your life. These are the good times: go and enjoy it.”’
You suspect they did. The reigning champions are known as ‘The Circus’ for a whole host of reasons: their distinctive big top-coloured kit, the flair and energy with which they play the game, the fun they clearly have whilst carving opposition defences to ribbons and pick-pocketing possession, and – perhaps most crucially – the way they relish their off-field celebrations.
Gloucester-Hartpury were mightily impressive across the board last season. Can they be even better this time in the newly branded league- Premiership Women’s Rugby?
‘Yes – and we’re going to have to be. The standards go up every single year in this league, so we’ve been setting targets – and will continue to do so – because you have to keep raising the bar to stay competitive.’
A beaming Hunt told the TNT cameras at the Premiership Women’s Rugby launch that they don’t consider the trophy theirs at present: the group’s mentality is that they need to go out and actively win it again.
Coach and captain are on the same page here: ‘what we achieved last year as a club was making history – but that was last year. This season – now – the vision is to make sure we get into that top two: the home semi-final is so, so important.’
‘That’s the vision, and we’ve discussed it, but now all of our focus is on what we can control. It’s about what we can do – week in, week out – and I won’t look at the bigger picture until we get there.
‘There’ll be some bumps, some highs, and some lows – and we need to pull together tight on each one of those. Everything is about getting into the top two, and then it’s knockout rugby.’
Not too much has changed over the summer, personnel-wise. Two notable names have departed – Connie Powell and Sophie Bridger – and two seriously classy new recruits – Mackenzie Carson and Caity Mattinson – have arrived.
‘She’s been amazing since coming into camp,’ Lynn enthuses, when asked about the latter-mentioned Scottish scrum-half. ‘You’d swear she’s always been a part of this squad, and having a good person like her in our environment’s only going to make it a better place. Then there’s her play.
‘Her running game’s very exciting, her service and distribution are excellent, and she fits the way we go about things.’ Hunt, Bianca Blackburn, and now Mattinson: they’re not short on zip in the West Country…
Those four transfers aside, continuity’s been the name of the game. Go and browse the squad on the Gloucester Rugby website, and you’ll notice two things. Firstly – it’s stacked. You can only imagine how competitive training is, and can’t help but be struck by the depth in each position – in terms of both raw ability and experience. Secondly – they’ve had their headshots taken on thrones.
Well – technically they’re on imposing leather armchairs, but the messaging is clear. This roster, a compelling blend of world class and up-and-coming talents – sat, elbows on knees, faces impassive – are the queens of English rugby, and they’ll take some knocking off that perch.
Plenty of his youngsters had sparkling Allianz Cup campaigns and eye-catching preseasons, Lynn says, but he picks out Mia Venner as someone he thinks has a huge year ahead.
He also discusses the return of his WXV athletes – it’s testament to the player pool he’s assembled that England’s vice-captain, Ireland’s co-captain, and Wales’ skipper all play their club rugby in cherry and white – and how it brought out the ‘real perfectionist’ in him, as a coach who places people and relationships at at the heart one everything he does.
‘They were all in different places when they got back: WXV might have been amazing for some individuals, but it wasn’t that way for others. I’ve talked to each and every one of them about it, so I’m aware of their experience and perspective.’
However their tournament went, he’s reminded them, they’ll have benefited from ‘brilliant learnings at international level. What an opportunity.’
Back from Dubai, South Africa, and New Zealand, then – and with no time to waste. Plenty’s been made of how short a season this is – Brsitol’s Head Coach Dave Ward’s referred to it as ‘a sprint’ – and no side will be more wary of a sluggish start than the team everyone wants to beat, and who’ve a wince-inducing schedule.
Gloucester-Hartpury’s opening rounds are Girls Aloud levels of ‘Something Kinda Ooooh’ – with trips to Bristol, Exeter, and Twickenham itself to navigate before the New Year, but it’s something the coaches have orchestrated before: they didn’t lose a game until late February last time out. Mind you, that was without the giant, cherry-shaped target they’re now wearing…
Lynn’s quick to dismiss that mountain as a molehill. ‘Pressure only comes if you put pressure on yourselves. That side of things has been mentioned, of course, but we’re going to enjoy every little bit of our title defence. It’s who we are: we work hard in the week, but we enjoy playing on Saturday.’
Their competition’s campaigns are already underway – Bears and Saracens laying down particularly arresting statements of intent – whilst the reigning champions, who had a bye in round one, are still poised in their blocks – with Leicester Tigers in their sights.
Head Coach Vicky Macqueen’s newbies impressed against Chiefs in their first ever match at this level last weekend (see for yourself in the PWR round one round-up), and now hurtle straight into a double-header at Kingsholm against the title holders.
Lynn adds: ‘We’re so excited to be back there, and playing for the Slater Cup makes it doubly special – especially given what the girls did at the final – donating their match fees to the 4Ed campaign. What a way to begin: we can’t wait.’
What made Gloucester-Hartpury so compelling last season was that they could win moments and matches any number of ways. They’d control territory, but be equally happy to counter from deep. They’d go up the guts – whilst knowing how devastating they’d be, should they opt to ship it wide.
They had a clinical attacking edge up one end, but I lost track of the number of times their phase play defence ended with a turned-over or held-up ball – and accompanying roar of delight from whichever hill the coaches were watching on from. They had at least two internationals in every position, but also youngsters with enough talent and clarity to step in when needed – and who seemed to flourish with that trust.
We’ve not seen them yet this year, but their squad and staff have hardly changed, and their versatility will have made them tough to unpick during the off-season.
Motivation-wise, Hunt and Sarah Beckett might not have the same points to prove this year, and the Red Roses might not have the heartache to banish, but it’s not tough to get up for a title defence – so the emotional edge is there. It’ll take a very special team to derail this lot.
By tea time on Saturday, they’ll be underway. The final contender – bristling, bright-eyed, and brandishing the championship belt – will have entered the ring, and it’ll feel like everyone’s finally arrived at the party.
Or perhaps I should say ‘at the funfair’, because that’s what we’re dealing with here. The circus is back on in town, PWR fans: prepare to be right royally entertained.
Comments on RugbyPass
Haha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
2 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
5 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
2 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
5 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
5 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
4 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
5 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
12 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
5 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to comments