Glaws must conquer inconsistency
Jonny M - winner
By Cherry Picker
December 18 2011
The inconsistency which has dogged Gloucester since the start of the season is showing no sign of going away, and until it does the best they can hope for is one iof those mid-table seasons of mediocrity that provide neither progress nor promise.
Having won in Ireland in the first leg of the Heineken Cup double against Connacht, Glaws should have used the second leg to cement the improvements shown in that game.
The fact that they didn’t, and never went close to doing so, poses a big question mark against the squad.
Basically, it asks, are they good enough?
The Kingsholm crowd delivered a verdict at half-time when Glaws were 13-10 down – will the team respond?
A 23-19 win kept live faint hopes of qualifying, but it needed a brilliant solo try from replacement Jonny May late in the game to earn the result against a Connacht side that had every right to claim they had been better for most of the game.
Earlier the teams had traded a single converted try each, Glaws kicking three penalties to Connacht’s four.
Coach Bryan Redpath was honest enough to admit to the BBC: “We didn't perform well at all and lacked confidence for most of the game. Credit to Connacht, they brought a kicking game that put us under pressure.
"A win's a win, and we need to try and generate some confidence within the group while moving on and trying to be better.
"There were some fundamental points that we were so strong on last week such as set-piece, scrum drive and discipline but this week we weren't as strong. That's why we went in 13-10 down at half-time."
Redpath says Glaws have had a tough two months, and he surely won’t need to be reminded that it won’t be getting any easier as we head into 2012, a Boxing Day home game against Wasps seeing out 2011.
He added: “We have two wins on the bounce now and we must keep trying to be better. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves – we should accept the responsibility, take it on the chin and move forward.
“We have to get out attacking game together, that breeds the confidence to defend – it has a knock-on affect.”
Hopefully they will get it right for Wasps.