Guinness Premiership: Fri 21st Nov Kingsholm
Gloucester have received a huge double boost ahead of their crunch Guinness Premiership encounter against Leicester on Saturday.
The Cherry-and-Whites will definitely be strengthened by the return of Mefin Davies from international duty, and they also expect to be further bolstered by the presence of Jake Boer.
Davies comes back to the fold after Wales selected the fixtures against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia as the three that the hooker is required to play under IRB stipulations.
Fiji are next to visit the Millennium Stadium on Friday, meaning Davies is free to feature in the clash between the 3rd and 4th placed teams in the Premiership, and Gloucester coach Dean Ryan could not hide his delight at the outcome.
"It is outstanding news for us and we are delighted to have a player of Mefin's ability available for selection," Ryan told the club website.
"Mefin is the sort of player who gives us tremendous accuracy in any environment and is someone who doesn't buckle under pressure.
"He knows what it is to function under pressure in a ground like Welford Road and that ability will be very important to us this weekend."
Meanwhile, South African back row Jake Boer is hopeful of securing at least a bench place for the trip to Leicester, after four weeks out with a toe injury.
It remains unclear as to how fit the powerful forward is going into the weekend, but Ryan is confident that Boer is ready to help Gloucester's push for domestic success.
"Jake's toe injury has been quite restrictive for him but we hope to have him returning to the squad this weekend," revealed the Cherry-and-Whites boss.
"If he does that, he would obviously be available for selection. To have any player of Jake's ability around is very important to us, particularly at this stage of the season when we have so many important games coming up."
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Gloucester | |
| Friday 21st November | |
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Gloucester 39 - 10 Bristol | |
| Sunday 16th November | |
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Saracens 21 - 25 Gloucester | |
| Sunday 2nd November | |
| The EDF Energy Cup | |
| Newcastle 10 - 11 Gloucester | |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| The EDF Energy Cup | |
| Gloucester 25 - 20 Newport-Gwent D'gons | |
| Sunday 19th October | |
| Heineken Cup | |
| Cardiff Blues 37 - 24 Gloucester | |
| Saturday 11th October | |
| Heineken Cup | |
| Gloucester 22 - 10 Biarritz | |
| Saturday 4th October | |
| The EDF Energy Cup | |
| Gloucester 24 - 19 Wasps | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bath | 7 | 25 |
| 2 | London Irish | 7 | 23 |
| 3 | Gloucester | 7 | 22 |
| 4 | Leicester Tigers | 7 | 21 |
| 5 | Sale Sharks | 7 | 20 |
Have YOUR SAY after South Africa handed England their biggest ever loss at Twickenham.
The Rugby Club caught up with three Springbok superstars ahead of their Twickenham clash.
Martin Johnson told The Rugby Club that England are ready to take their game to the next level.
Gloucester ran in five tries to claim a 39-10 bonus-point victory over Bristol at Kingsholm on Friday evening.
Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan was happy with the way his young guns performed in a five-try demolition of Bristol tonight.
Bristol coach Richard Hill believes the victory over Northampton has given his side the confidence boost they need.
The Welsh Rugby Union will be looking into Gloucester's selection of Gareth Cooper on Sunday.
Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan remained defiant after naming Welsh scrum-half Gareth Cooper on the bench for the win at Saracens.