Gloucester take on the Tigers without the heat of pressure, believes Davies
COMPOSED Gloucester will not feel the pinch of pressure at Leicester Tigers tomorrow, believes Nigel Davies.
The Gloucester boss reckons his side can head up to Welford Road (kick-off 5pm) in buoyant mood after last weekend’s 18-16 Exeter Chiefs victory.
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Martyn Thomas
After claiming losing bonus points at Harlequins and Saracens this term, Davies would love his side to record a statement-making win at one of the Premiership’s true powers.
But the Kingsholm rugby director said there is no undue burden on his side.
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Davies explained: “Most of the pressure is on them really, especially after our Exeter win.
“That has set us up pretty well for the games to come now.
“It gives us a bit of confidence, and sustains our momentum, but we’ve got to harness that in one of the toughest places in the league.”
Full-back Rob Cook has not recovered from his sickness bug, so misses out in the East Midlands.
Martyn Thomas steps up to the 15 role, with Drew Locke taking a seat on the bench.
Gloucester’s backline is otherwise unchanged from the Exeter victory, with Billy Twelvetrees making his first return to Welford Road since leaving the Tigers in the summer.
Former Wales centre Davies admitted Gloucester’s twin playmakers Freddie Burns and Twelvetrees will need to be on the button with their tactical plays.
He continued: “Accuracy is paramount at Welford Road.
“We’ve got to be spot-on with our approach because they punish sides who are not.
“But if you get things right, then you can certainly threaten them, using similar methods to Leicester in fact.”
Up front Will James trades places with Tom Savage, stepping into the second row from the bench.
Otherwise the same pack that battled so aggressively against Exeter will be tasked with doing likewise against the potent Tigers.
LEICESTER TIGERS: G Murphy, N Morris, M Tuilagi, A Allen, A Thompstone, T Flood, B Youngs, M Ayerza, T Youngs, D Cole, L Deacon (capt), G Parling, B Deacon, J Salvi, J Crane. Replacements: G Chuter, L Mulipola, M Castrogiovanni, E Slater, S Mafi, S Harrison, G Ford, M Smith.
GLOUCESTER: M Thomas, C Sharples, M Tindall, B Twelvetrees, S Monahan, F Burns, J Cowan, N Wood, H Edmonds, S Knight, W James, J Hamilton (capt), S Kalamafoni, A Qera, B Morgan. Replacements: D Dawidiuk, D Murphy, T Savage, M Cox, D Robson, T Molenaar, D Locke.
Comments
by Karbonn
Sunday, January 06 2013, 11:01AM
“I get the distinct impression the the Gloucester Rugby hating multi-troll with the many names, i.e. akadau/Absolam/glawsteruk1/peh45/Autotroll/Kap721, etc. doesn't like Rupert Harden. On the other hand, the Gloucester DoR likes selecting Harden to start the key games and that suits me fine.”
by walker1105
Sunday, January 06 2013, 10:49AM
“We need to have Harden fit and playing. Without him dominating in the scrum as usual, we will struggle in even more of the games to come, just as we did against Irish at Kingsholm yesterday.”
by Buggsie
Sunday, January 06 2013, 10:40AM
“Rupert Harden = The best tight head at Gloucester”
by JBuddy
Sunday, January 06 2013, 10:35AM
“The scrum really struggled without RUPERT HARDEN yesterday and it was only the great efforts from Dan Murphy and then Nick Wood that prevented the scrum from being demolished. Unfortunately, with a struggling scrum, we were bound to lose to Irish.”
by seanbulling
Sunday, January 06 2013, 9:46AM
“Irish was always going to be a tough game, that is why Harden was needed to start. Unfortunately, he wasn't available and the inevitable happened... No dominance in the scrum and another loss at Kingsholm. That'll please the Harden and Gloucester hating multi-troll akadau.”
by mattw74
Saturday, January 05 2013, 8:16PM
“On the subject of Rupert Harden, our best and top rated tight head, I just hope he is fit and available to play for Gloucester in the Amlin Challenge Cup next weekend.”
by jasonbennett3
Saturday, January 05 2013, 5:34PM
“I think everyone has realised that the Gloucester Rugby and Rupert Harden hating multi-ID troll akadau/glawslad/Autootroll/Absolam/glawsteruk1/peh45/WitneyFoxy/GlosRugbyMan/Kap721/Gordon_P/RuckandRoller/flanker_6/graybaggs/barkeyhead/and so on, doesn't go to any games. If he did, he would realise just how key a figure Rupert Harden is in the scrum, the ruck, the maul and in the loose.
#getHardenbackASAP!”
by LarryOfLevens
Saturday, January 05 2013, 1:56PM
“Rupert Harden is Gloucester Rugby's first choice and best tight head. Our professional coaches and the DoR all know this which is why, when he is fit, Harden is invariably selected to start in all the key games. There is no swapping and changing like there is on the loose head side of the scrum, because Harden is peerless on the tight head side. He is the number one tight head by a country mile, despite what the clueless multi-troll akadau claims from his "vantage point" of never going to any Gloucester Rugby games.”
by Steve_Bronko
Saturday, January 05 2013, 1:47PM
“The Gloucester Rugby and Rupert harden hating troll with the numerous IDs, akadau, wouldn't even know where Kingsholm is, let alone go to any games.”
by LucaTowers
Saturday, January 05 2013, 1:44PM
“The Harden hating multi-troll akadau is obviously not at the game today. But then that should come as no surprise, he is a Gloucester Rugby hater and doesn't go to any Gloucester games.”