Gloucester’s Shaun Knight: Season over if we don't beat London Welsh
BEAT London Welsh or the play-off dream is over, admits Shaun Knight.
Tighthead prop Knight believes Gloucester could well need five wins from their five remaining matches to secure a Premiership semi-final.
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DEMAND: Shaun Knight believes Gloucester need to win all five of their remaining games this term
And he has conceded that nothing other than victory over basement club Welsh this weekend will sustain their top-four hopes.
The stark reality of a flawless run-in might seem daunting – but the Matson-born 23-year-old is confident the Cherry and Whites have what it takes to pull off a top-four coup.
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Gloucester host embattled London Welsh at Kingsholm on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), the first of three remaining home league clashes.
Reigning champions Harlequins visit on Friday, March 29, before former league winners Saracens pitch up on Saturday, April 20.
Nigel Davies' men face an away trip to Sale Sharks on Friday, April 12 – before completing their regular-season programme at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, May 4.
Knight is hoping to overcome a knee tendon problem that has sidelined him since January, in time for Saturday's clash.
And the England Under-20s graduate admits Gloucester have no more margin for error.
Knight explained: "It's simple: if we don't win we'll go out of the top-four race.
"We've got to win, and we've got to look at winning every game now.
"On paper Quins at home will be even harder than London Welsh.
"But we nearly beat Quins down there and we've got to be confident on our own patch.
"We'll respect all our opponents, but we're at home and we're fifth in the league for a reason."
Inconsistent home form has started to dog rugby director Davies' men.
After a demoralising 18-12 Kingsholm defeat to London Irish on January 5 the Cherry and Whites were hit with their heaviest professional-era home loss to rivals Bath, 32-5 in the LV=Cup.
Davies' men edged over the line 29-23 against Worcester Warriors on Friday, February 22.
And that tetchy victory came after boss Davies had switched training to Kingsholm, to help his players become more at ease at their home ground.
Passionate Gloucester boy Knight would never feel ill at ease at Kingsholm, and admits he has been keen to see the whole squad embrace the plus side of the fervent home atmosphere.
He continued: "We've had a couple of blips at Kingsholm this season, so I could see why that could be said.
"But for me personally it's a great place to play and we've got to get rid of any nerves playing in front of our great set of fans.
"We've got to do our thing, get into our game, do what we're coached to, and we should be okay.
"When you've got that great crowd behind you there's no reason to be nervous.
"That crowd's not going to turn against you if they see you are fighting your hardest and giving it your all.
"If we give them that then they will give us huge backing, and it definitely makes a difference."
12 Comments
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by star_turn
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:44PM
“On the subject of Rupert Harden, I just hope he is fully recovered and available to play for Gloucester against London Welsh next Saturday. He is our best and top rated tight head by miles.”
by Nick-Iewis
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:41PM
“Rupert Harden... He is our best tight head and when he is not available, the scrum is seriously weakened. I hope he is available for the game against LW on Saturday.”
by StephenGeorge
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:29PM
“Akadau, the Gloucester Rugby and Rupert Harden hating multi identity troll is clueless about every aspect of the game of rugby. He has been found out so many times with his new identities that I bet he has even lost count of them all.
# Rupert Harden is Gloucester Rugby's stand-out tight head. ND knows it which is why he selects him to start all the critical games.”
by s_sorrca
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:17PM
“Rupert Harden rules in the tight head position and dominates in the scrum. Let's hope he is fit for Saturday against Welsh. We don't want our scrum going backwards, like it did in the first 50 minutes against Tigers at Welford Road.”
by ken_farnwood
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:08PM
“Rupert Harden... Our first choice tight head every time when it matters.”
by Roon76
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 7:50PM
“The DoR, Nigel Davies, knows that Harden is his top tight head; everyone else knows that Rupert is the best tight head at Glaws. The only one who thinks otherwise and thinks he knows more about rugby and the Gloucester Rugby players than Nigel Davies is the troll acadau.”
by Curt_Downe
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 7:41PM
“RUPERT HARDEN... Nigel Davies' selection as his first choice tight head. Not second or third but FIRST CHOICE.”
by SteveBronko
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 7:22PM
“Our scrum is always underpowered when Harden isn't in there propping.”
by Drussus
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 7:14PM
“The number 3 shirt belongs to Harden. ND has selected him as his first choice.”
by alex-bound
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 12:02PM
“There is no doubting that Gloucester Rugby's best and most proficient tight head is Rupert Harden. No one comes close to him in the tight head position.”