There's more to this game than just LV= Cup qualification, says Robson

GLOUCESTER'S fight to keep their LV=Cup hopes alive only scratches the surface of Cherry and Whites motivation for Saturday's Northampton trip, believes Dan Robson.

The Kingsholm scrum-half admits the odds are already against Gloucester progressing to the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

But the increasingly-accomplished 20-year-old said no uphill struggle will deter Nigel Davies' men from heading to Franklin's Gardens with victory in mind.

Gloucester's 33-27 defeat by Ospreys in November leaves the Cherry and Whites hard-pressed to make the LV=Cup's knockout stages.

The Kingsholm men complete their group-stage fixtures by travelling to Northampton on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) and hosting Bath a week later.

Robson admits Gloucester must build up a head of speed for their return to Premiership action – once again at Northampton, on Saturday, February 9.

The half-back said: "There's so much more riding on this game than the qualification odds for the LV=Cup semi-finals.

"We need to build momentum, we need to bring our game together because we are still making too many mistakes – because we need to go back into the league in far better form.

"And there's a lot of players desperate to take their chance, show what they can do and put a marker down for the games ahead.

"This game will no doubt be a chance for several players to state their selection case.

"Whenever you get an opportunity you've just got to grab it with both hands.

"It's no different for me, competing with Jimmy Cowan and Dave Lewis all the time.

"I've just got to keep playing and keep taking my opportunities.

"Every time I get a chance I've just got to put a marker down."

Gloucester's 36-16 Kingsholm victory over Mont de Marsan on Saturday secured a home Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Basque Country giants Biarritz.

Admitting everyone at Gloucester has been craving top-level European opponents, Robson also conceded the Cherry and Whites must raise their game and fast to have any chance of seeing off Biarritz in April.

He continued: "If we want to make a serious dent on the league's top four and if we want a real chance of winning that Amlin quarter-final, we're going to have to be a lot better than we were on Saturday.

"You want as much exposure to the top sides as possible.

"We wanted as big a side as we could get at Kingsholm for the quarter-final, and we're pretty pleased with Biarritz.

"It will be a massive game in front of a passionate and noisy crowd, and we'd love nothing more than to go and win it, for the supporters as much as ourselves.

"We were disappointed not to be in the Heineken this season, so we've got to

"We'll have to be a lot better to win that quarter-final than we were against Mont de Marsan.

"At times we played some really good rugby, but our discipline let us down.

"We've got to keep hold of the ball better.

"We've got a few weeks to get things together now, and I'm confident we'll manage that.

"We've got a good squad and people fit again and available.

"Hopefully we can get a couple of good results, and that will help us move everything forward."