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Gloucester Rugby defence coach Jonny Bell sees their European Rugby Challenge Cup clash with Benetton Treviso as the perfect opportunity to claim an elusive home victory. - 20/10/2016 11:57
Gloucester Rugby defence coach Jonny Bell sees their European Rugby Challenge Cup clash with Benetton Treviso as the perfect opportunity to claim an elusive home victory.
The Cherry and Whites have failed to win in their three matches at Kingsholm this season. But they put their early season disappointment behind them by thrashing Bayonne 47-27 in France last weekend. Gloucester welcome a Treviso side who were comprehensively beaten at home by La Rochelle last weekend.
And Bell reckons the Kingsholm faithful could finally have something to shout about on Saturday.
He said: “This weekend we just want to deliver a strong, professional performance. We have a duty to deliver for our home fans. This is the opportunity to give our fans something to cheer about, we must take each game as it comes but another victory will build momentum.
“We’re going to be tested at home against a physical Treviso side. They're going to come at us up-front so we need to make sure we have everything in place to combat that. We showed cutting edge by scoring six tries away from hime last week, and we want to keep that going.”
England wing Jonny May made a try-scoring return after nine months out with injury. And he is set to continue his comeback on the wing this weekend. But Treviso will be without flanker William Zanini, who has undergone surgery on a pectoral injury.
“We need to front-up without the ball and defend well because Italian sides usually come with a big, physical tight five and try and take you on up-front,” Bell added. “We have to be strong there and eliminate some soft moments that have been littered through our season so far.”
Match facts
- Gloucester and Benetton Treviso are set for a first meeting in the Challenge Cup, however, they’ve met twice in the European Cup with Gloucester winning both matches in the 2003/04 pool stage..
- Gloucester have won 12 of their last 14 at home in this competition, scoring 20+ points in 13 of the games.
- Treviso have failed to win a match away from home in European competition since December 2007 (Newport Gwent Dragons in the European Cup), losing 25 times in a row since.
- Two-time tournament winners, Gloucester, have not lost a pool stage game in the Challenge Cup since 2010, winning 21 in a row in that time.
Calum Braley crashed over at the death to secure Gloucester Rugby a 37-8 bonus-point triumph over Benetton Treviso. - 22/10/2016 16:59
Calum Braley crashed over at the death to secure Gloucester Rugby a 37-8 bonus-point triumph over Benetton Treviso.
The replacement scrum-half made sure the Cherry and Whites kept pace with La Rochelle at the top of European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool One. His try came after efforts from Matt Scott, Lewis Ludlow and Jonny May.
Michael Tagicakibau pulled a score back after half-time, and the gutsy Italians looked as if they had held-firm, but they finally cracked.
It took Gloucester 13 minutes to get on the scoreboard as they went in search of a first home victory this season. Greig Laidlaw, who will depart for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the summer, slotted a penalty to put the Cherry and Whites 3-0 up.
The Scotland skipper added a second penalty, but the Italians were holding-firm in defence. However, Gloucester finally got the breakthrough after 26 minutes. David Humphreys’ men but the phases before moving the ball to Lewis Ludlow, who barged over the try-line to score. Laidlaw added the conversion.
Ian McKinley landed a penalty to pull three points back for Treviso, but the hosts made a statement before half-time. Outside-half Billy Burns took the ball to gain line before he sent a grubber kick through, and May raced onto it to score. Laidlaw was successful again from the tee to make it 20-3 at half-time.
But Gloucester were caught cold at the start of the second-half when Treviso flyer Tagicakibau crashed over at the corner. But normal service was resumed after 52 minutes. The ball was worked wide to Billy Twelvetrees, who combined with centre partner Scott, who crashed over. Laidlaw added the extras to make it 30-8.
And Braily was the hero of the day as he crashed over in injury time. James Hook landed the conversion to seal a 37-8 triumph.
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