Keith Richardson Column: Don't let pragmatism rule over ambitiion

EVERYONE knows Gloucester are struggling for attacking fluency, it's clear for all to see.

But the Cherry and Whites must not shy away from their high running-rugby ambitions.

The temptation when things are not running smoothly is to stick to what is working well.

Gloucester's scrummage and their tight game has been impressive so far – but Nigel Davies must keep telling his men to be brave behind the scrum.

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The men from Kingsholm host Wasps tomorrow, and will need all their front-foot power to keep themselves in the hunt for victory.

Henry Trinder's try against Worcester had all the hallmarks of Gloucester at their very best.

The Premiership is full of safety-first merchants who only start to play in the opposition half, yet an attempt from depth has the element of surprise and the luxury of a generally sleepy defence.

So full marks to the Cherry and Whites for a score that was inspirational and a wonderful advert for the game at large.

Unfortunately there was not much more that was remotely close to such adulation, but not losing may be invaluable at the final tally.

Last season the supporters – and probably many at the club – would have exchanged their wives for consecutive away results of a win and a draw; two wins and many might have chucked grandma in as well.

A result of sorts keeps Gloucester chugging along though and a win tomorrow and Gloucester would be rightly satisfied with their start to the season.

In European boardrooms the shenigans are cranking up, and not for the better either.

The future of the Heineken Cup is on the line as rival factions claim ownership of new TV deals, and the English and French decry tournament qualification rules.

When the English and French get together, all should worry. As soon as man learned to swim The Channel, we started to wage war on the French.

Brian Moore carried things on and nearly succeeded single-handedly to start another Hundred Years War. So what on earth are we doing?

Why on earth did we start by launching the nuclear deterrent before trying to sort things out? All this Anglo-French scheming will achieve very little to my mind: the tournament will remain, with a bit of tweaking.