Prop injuries are not a concern
GLOUCESTER'S tighthead prop injury concerns should not take a firm grip, believes Carl Hogg.
Dario Chistolini limped out of Saturday's 26-7 Northampton defeat just before half-time, pulling a calf muscle.
Shaun Knight withdrew from England Saxons' Friday night victory over Irish Wolfhounds in Galway with a knee problem.
And Rupert Harden is continuing his recovery from neck trouble.
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But Gloucester forwards coach Hogg does not anticipate these worries piling up into a serious problem.
Academy prop Tom Heard – on loan at Cinderford in the main this season – replaced Chistolini at Franklin's Gardens, but after a promising start struggled in the scrum.
Chistolini had failed to cope with Saints' power too – and Gloucester return to the East Midlands for a pivotal Premiership clash on Saturday, February 9.
The Cherry and Whites will hope to have Knight and Harden fit for that demanding clash, and Hogg sees no reason for that not happening.
He explained: "Dario pulled his calf so we'll have to wait and see how he is in the next couple of days.
"Hopefully Rupert won't be too far away now, and we'll see how Shaun comes on, but we'd like to think that was more precautionary than anything else."
38 Comments
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by fuddlebagley
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 10:30PM
“Oh dear! It looks like the self-aggrandising talentless spotter is unable to spot any talent and now wants to take his ball home so that no one else can play. The trouble is, it isn't his ball and he doesn't like that.”
by Newilldon
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:30PM
“Nigel Davies, that astute and knowledgeable DoR at Gloucester Rugby has made Harden his first choice tight-head, selecting Harden to start 9 out of 13 Premiership games. Says it all, really.”
by dougiebailey
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:23PM
“Harden = the best tight head at Gloucester.”
by sam_silent
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:22PM
“Rupert Harden owns the tight head spot.”
by Wilson640
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:18PM
“Harden owns the number 3 shirt. He has no real competition for it.”
by rayglaws
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:16PM
“I just hope Harden is back against Saints. Remember the unedifying sight of a Gloucester front row being march backwards by a poor Sarries front row in that last scrum at Vicarage Road? Never again!”
by alex_bound
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:14PM
“Rupert Harden has 9 starts out of 13 premiership games for Gloucester this season, plus another two. That makes him the top rated tight head at Gloucester in anyone's books (except for the sad troll akadau/graybaggs/Kap721 who is pretty clueless about everything, really).”
by stewglos
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:13PM
“...But didn't you know? The troll akadau/Kap721/glawsteruk1/etc, reckons he knows better than the rugby-wise professional coach and DoR of Gloucester Rugby.”
by Drusus
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:11PM
“Nigel Davies picks the team. He has a choice of tight heads, yet, when it comes to the key games, he always goes for Harden. QED.”
by garthshawX
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:10PM
“Harden has been having a storming season. It is no wonder he has been selected to start the most games of all the front row forwards. And not just any old games. It has been the key games where you need your best players.”