BEFORE THE GAME
Gloucester had a mathematical possibility of reaching the quarter-final
stages of the Heineken Cup.
However within half an hour of the kick-off Stade Francais had established
an embarrassingly easy 27 point lead and the hosts were reduced to a
minor bit part in a match that was effectively finished as a realistic
contest by the half-time interval.
The superior French champions had outsmarted and outclassed the inept
Cherry and Whites without too much trouble. There can be no excuses
for the home side. It wasn’t a case of poor refereeing or bad
luck as Gloucester were swept aside and never seriously threatened the
visitor’s line throughout the game.
Judging by the recent Heineken Cup displays of Toulouse, Biarritz and
Stade Francais, French rugby is in a very strong state at professional
club level. With large cheque books at the ready it is no wonder they
have such genuine strength in depth.
At times it looked like supermen up against mere journeymen—so
much for those who say the Zurich Premiership is the hardest league
in Europe. So Gloucester joined the likes of Wasps and Bath, dumped
on this season’s Euro scrap heap - not forgetting the Welsh and
Scottish ‘also-rans’ who don't have to qualify.
Too many basic
errors with passing, catching and kicking, plus wrong options, all contributed
to the undoing for Gloucester, as the star-studded Stade back division
seemed much more competent and composed and complimented a superior
collective forward outfit who were far too sharp for their opposite
numbers.In all the Stade fielded twelve full internationals in the selected
side, plus having another four on the bench!
In marked contrast Gloucester had few top class players of genuine quality
although the welcome news of the return of James Simpson-Daniel and
Duncan McRae after injury provided a pre-match boost
.Skrela kicked
an early penalty before Stade created a well worked try with a well
judged kick from full back Argentine international Hernandez into the
unmanned corner for French international wing Christophe Dominici to
secure the touch-down. Skrela converted from close to the touchline.
Two bad blunders by Gloucester handed the ball and the initiative to
the French side. A Gloucester passing movement just outside their 25
saw a loose pass intercepted by another of Stade’s substantial
international contingent centre Stephane Glas, who strolled over unopposed
under the posts for the simplest of scores, again converted by Skrela.
Worse was to come as Terry Fanolua spilled the ball in mid-field and
the Parisians snapped up the turn-over ball through Glas, for Mauro
Bergamasco to claim the third try, awarded after consultation with the
video official as Gloucester were again punished ruthlessly for their
mistakes and Skrela again supplied the simple conversion and a further
penalty.
The European
dream had collapsed in a nightmare thirty minutes spell all within the
space of a one-sided first half and although the home side huffed and
puffed after the break there was no way back despite an improved display.
Terry Fanolua made some powerful runs but the Parisians held out with
comfortable ease.
Gloucester’s unbeaten home record in the Heineken Cup was surrendered
meekly and for the first time in many years they came off the field
without having scored a point and more to the point, not having looked
like scoring all afternoon.
The pressure is now very much on Nigel Melville, Dean Ryan and all the
players to make sure that the season does not deteriorate even further
and ensure European Cup qualification for next season, as a top-six
Premiership position is by no means a certainty.
Neither on present form, four defeats in a row, is the result of the
next round of the Powergen Cup, when Bristol visit Kingsholm next week.
GLOUCESTER:
J. Goodridge, M. Garvey, T. Fanolua, H. Paul, J. Simpson-Daniel,
D. McRae, A. Gomarsall.
C. Bezuidenhout rep. T. Sigley, J. Parkes, P. Vickery.
A. Eustace rep: P. Buxton, A. Brown
J. Boer, J. Forrester, A. Hazell rep: A. Balding
Referee: N. Williams, (Wales )
Attendance
13,000
