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George Skivington doesn’t believe the outcome of last week’s Sport Resolutions panel investigation in favour of Gloucester will be a factor in their Premiership Cup semi-final match versus Worcester – even though the Warriors have picked a vastly more experienced XV for the game at Kingsholm.
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Worcester boss Steve Diamond had predicted a points split of Gloucester four Warriors two in advance of the hearing verdict into last month’s eleventh-hour cancellation into an important Gallagher Premiership match between the two teams.
Diamond was proven incorrect, though, as the panel found in favour of Gloucester, awarding them a 20-0 win and five matches points following the cancellation that left an expected attendance in excess of 10,000 frustrated as well as BT Sport who had planned to show the game live.
It was last Thursday when that cancelled Premiership game hearing verdict was published and the clubs will now intriguingly face off this Wednesday night in the semi-final of the Premiership Cup, a tournament that has mostly featured second-string selections all year.
However, while Gloucester are keeping faith in the youngsters that got them to this stage of the tournament, Worcester are instead set to go all out as their XV includes the fit-again Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe, the 2021 Lions tourist, and Tongan No8 Sione Vailanu.
Asked was it against the spirit of the Premiership Cup that Worcester have chosen a team more loaded with regular first-team players than Gloucester, Skivington replied: “I don’t think that is for me to judge. Clubs are going to approach things differently and if that is the way they do it, that is the way they do it. From my point of view, these young Gloucester lads have got us here so they earn the right to play in the semi-final.
“Look, it’s a game of rugby and that is the decision they have made, to put their full strength squad out. From our point of view, it is going to be tough. It’s going to be a hard game. You have got a British Lion in there, you have got other internationals, a lot of Premiership caps up against a young Gloucester team, it’s going to be a tough day.
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“This is a good opportunity for them to go against a full-strength Worcester side who play regularly week in week out in the Premiership, it’s a great challenge for them. They want to keep learning and developing.”
Skivington was then asked at his weekly media briefing if last week’s Premiership hearing outcome in favour of Gloucester will add some additional spice to this cup meeting with Worcester. “No, no, we parked that the Monday after that Friday (March 25) to be honest with you. As a group inside the squad, we haven’t talked about it once.”
The Premiership Cup is one of three trophies Gloucester are still in the hunt for as they are looking to make the Premiership semi-finals and are in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup. Momentum in the league was checked by last weekend’s sickening finish at Bristol, Skivington’s team losing out in the final moments, and next weekend they face Bath, another neighbour struggling at the wrong end of the table.
“The reality of our position now is we could finish fourth or ninth, there are five teams very close to each other and it is what it is. From the team that is going to play Bath, there is no point looking past Bath. That is a massive fixture for us and the outcome of that will either push us forward or push us a little bit back but that is as far as we are looking. That is our sole focus.
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“I’m not looking too far past last week – Bath did very, very well. Saints had a flurry at the end and scored some great tries, but for a lot of that game Bath looked very strong and they have done that a few times. They haven’t had the season they would want but they have got some quality. That Bath squad is quality, quality players. You underestimate them at your peril.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
2 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
2 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
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