Gloucester bounced back from their miserable Munster experience last weekend
to run eight tries past Zurich Premiership rivals Saracens and breeze through to
the Powergen Cup semi-finals.
Any fears the Cherry and White fans had that Gloucester might be tight and
tentative after their European Cup humiliation in Limerick were quickly
dispelled.
Rangy James Forrester, playing at number eight, set the tone for the afternoon
when he broke away from a 22-metre scrum inside the first two minutes and
galloped over for Gloucester's opening try.
Forrester also had the last word, scoring a 76th minute try to round off an
afternoon of entertaining rugby in which Saracens also had their moments.
In between the two Forrester touchdowns there was a procession of Gloucester
tries - punctuated by three from Sarries - as morale was restored at Kingsholm.
Perhaps the most nervous of the Gloucester players running out onto the pitch
was Henry Paul. The former League star had attracted most of the criticism after
last week's defeat at Munster and he was not expected to make a start against
Saracens.
Indeed, there were even doubts that coach Nigel Melville would include Paul on
the replacements bench.
But he got an earlier than expected chance to redeem himself when centre
Robert Todd had to pull out with a calf injury this morning.
Paul, who had been a failure at full-back last weekend, duly ook to the field
at centre and had a sound game, making only one obvious mistake with a dreadful
knock-on when as he leapt to take a straightforward pass.
Otherwise, there was nothing to criticise Paul for as he played a full role in
Gloucester's incisive back attacks and got himself on the scoreboard by
converting the final try when Ludovic Mercier had left the field.
Gloucester's only black moments were the second half dismissal of flanker Jake
Boer when he was shown the yellow card for a suspected punch in the 62nd
minute.
After Forrester's 2nd minute try, which Mercier failed to convert, Thinus
Delport was next over the line but again Mercier was off target.
Saracens hit back with a try by Adryan Winnan and a penalty by Nicky Little
but by half time Gloucester had stretched their lead to 23-8 with tries from
Terry Fanolua and Delport and a penalty by Mercier, who missed both
conversions.
At the restart Saracens shocked Gloucester with an almost immediate try by
winger Tom Shanklin, who raced in past two defenders - but Little missed the
conversion.
Scrum half Andy Gomarsall and lock Adam Eustace put the issue beyond doubt for
the home side with tries in the 47th and 60th minutes, both converted by the now
on-form Mercier.
Argentinian prop Rodrigo Roncero then galloped over with Mercier again adding
the points in Boer's absence.
A try by Saracens replacement Richard Haughton, converted by Winnan, stopped
the Gloucester advance briefly but then came Forrester's second try - and Paul's
conversion took them past the half century.
Teams:
Gloucester: Delport, Simpson-Daniel,
Fanolua, Paul, Beim,
Mercier, Gomarsall, Roncero, Azam, Deacon, Eustace, Cornwell,
Boer, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Stuart-Smith, Amor, O'Leary, Fortey, Molloy, Fidler,
Buxton.
Tries: Forrester 2, Delport 2, Fanolua, Gomarsall,
Eustace, Roncero.
Cons: Mercier 3, Paul.
Pens: Mercier.
Saracens: Winnan, Shanklin, Johnston, Horan, O'Mahony, Little,
Bracken, Storey, R. Russell, Marsters, Hooper, Yandell,
B. Russell, Roques, Chesney.
Replacements: Croall, Parkes, Skirving, Hill, Kirton, Haughton,
Sparg.
Tries: Winnan, Shanklin, Haughton.
Cons: Little.
Pens: Little.
Att: 8,500
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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