When Jonny May then scored Gloucester’s second after Mumm’s, it was more a case of home desperation than any realistic prospect of the gap being bridged.
“Exeter were by far the better team,†said Gloucester coach Nigel Davies. “They were fantastic and gave probably the most complete performance I’ve seen by any team coming to Kingsholm since I’ve been here.†This may be an explanation, but it is hardly an excuse. Davies insists Twelvetrees and Burns were not short of confidence, but they soon will be if the big men in front of them keep receiving this sort of thrashing.
As for Morgan and Kvesic, Davies substituted both after 57 minutes and said afterwards there was keen competition for Gloucester back-row places and things had needed changing.
“It’s very difficult to take,†said Davies. “Our scrum has been OK but today it was taken apart and Exeter’s runners had a field day. If it had been consistently happening, I might be worried. But it hasn’t and I expect a reaction.â€
Most imminently, that will be against Perpignan in the Heineken Cup this weekend, when Exeter play Cardiff Blues. On this evidence it is the Chiefs rather than Gloucester who are more capable of making a European impact. Or, indeed, with Lancaster. Tom Johnson, relegated to the Saxons, excelled in the Exeter back row, as did Dave Ewers.
The Zimbabwean No8 has been in England for eight years, so is qualified. Excellent against Leicester, at Kingsholm he was outstanding and must soon attract the England coach’s attention.
“If you have a platform like that, everybody looks good,†said Baxter, who would prefer to keep Ewers quiet for now. Unfortunately for that thesis, Ewers was yesterday’s man of the match.
Article source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/british-and-irish-lions-v-queensland-reds-player-ratings-8650576.html
Gloucester 12 - Exeter 29: Chiefs scrum on too strong
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