"Longer term Injuries" – Gloucester head coach George Skivington provides tough injury update on Zach Mercer and Ollie Thorley ahead of Challenge Cup

12/04/2024 06:04 AM

By Ben Baker

George Skivington addressed his sides second half struggles and also spoke about Gloucester's injury problems ahead of their opening Challenge Cup clash against Edinburgh. 

Gloucester Rugby will be running high on confidence approaching the opening weekend of European rugby after defeating reigning Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints 25-17 last weekend.

The game saw George Skivington's side once again lose the second half, this has been a common theme for the Cherries this season and a major talking point. 

"We’ve discussed as a leadership group on Monday how we’re going to take hold of these second halves, because we are putting ourselves in some really strong positions. There’s always momentum swings. but it’s how you control it and how, when you get out of a rut, how do you hold onto it for a little while. So, we’ve had some good discussions, as a leadership group and as coaches.  I think, as coaches, we can be a bit more helpful at half-time." 

The clash also saw star players Ollie Thorley and Zach Mercer go off injured and it looks like they could both be out for a long time. 

"I don’t think they’re going to be pretty to be honest. I’m just judging by what I see, the way they’re on crutches and that. I think those two are potentially longer-term injuries, which is very upsetting because obviously both of them have been in really good form for us." 

Mercer has impressed for Gloucester in recent games, with Skivington saying the Northampton clash could have been his best ever in a Gloucester shirt. The number eight is rumoured to be going back to France as his return to England has failed to get him back into the national team. 

"He obviously did come back to England to play for England and that hasn’t worked out. So, I think with a player like Zach, there’s always discussions. The game’s changed a bit now in terms of the way it works with agents and clubs. You quite often get a phone call, would you be willing to trade so-and-so or sell so-and-so? That wasn’t the case even three or four years ago when I started off in this role. It’s really changed the last year or two on that front. It’s a little bit more football-esque." 

The two clubs have had faced each other in some classic matches, with the most recent being Gloucester picking up a massive 21-20 win away from home and then also having a notable clash in the 2014/15 Challenge Cup final where The Cherries also won. 

Friday nights clash sees Gloucester who are fifth in the Premiership face Edinburgh who are seventh in the United Rugby Championship, both teams around the middle of the table in their respective league. Skivington is expecting a tough challenge against the Scottish side. 

"Obviously, come this fixture last year, the Premiership was finished really for us, all bar trying to find something out of it. Obviously, we move into the Cup and we’re in a good spot in the Prem. But I think the first two games will decide it for us. We’re going to go hard, definitely. Like I say, we’ve got a few bangs and bruises, so the 23 will look slightly different. But I’m picking the best team that I’ve got available to go and beat Edinburgh on Friday night. ” 

"I think the beauty of these European competitions generally is you jump into a new competition where you don’t know the opposition very well, you don’t know the coaches very well, different officials, you know, it becomes a very different challenge to your week in, week out. But we’ve obviously got some recent history with Edinburgh. I’m sure they haven’t forgotten our game up there last year." 

"They’re a big team, you know, like when they walked out in pre-season and I remember thinking it last year, there’s some big, big men in that team. So, yeah, but talking about here and now, the analysis is tricky because last week’s performance looked slightly different to the weeks before. So I think we’ve got to be ready for an exciting game, I think." 

It's set to be an exciting pool with RC Vannes, Black Lion, Aviron Bayonnais and Scarlets joining them. 

The post “Longer term Injuries” – Gloucester head coach George Skivington provides tough injury update on Zach Mercer and Ollie Thorley ahead of Challenge Cup opener appeared first on Ruck.