"Very dangerous attacking team" – Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson recognises Gloucester's threats and non 'traditional' attacking style
Today at 11:18 AM
Harlequins Head Coach Danny Wilson is expecting a thriller at Kingsholm on Friday night as his side face Gloucester in the Premiership. The Cherry and Whites switched to a more expansive style of play at the beginning of the season, a tactical change that saw them improve off last years' disappointing campaign.
"They are playing a lot more rugby, playing from a lot deeper and adopting a fast style on a fast track which traditionally hasn't been Gloucester.
"They have recruited well to that as well, Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe are two guys I've worked heavily with in the past and two very dangerous attacking players," added Wilson.
"Along with some of their electric backs and their mobile pack they have gone to a different style and it's one that's working for them and one we are used to playing as well.
"It will make for another high octane game on that fast track but one we are looking forward to on Friday night."
The artificial pitch that Gloucester play on has lent itself to this change in style with 3G pitches all the way through to the training ground.
"They have done really well with their training facilities, they have got that indoor barn where they are training on a fast track, they are playing outside on a fast track and matchday too so they have really gone with it.
"It makes them a very dangerous attacking team.
"The old Gloucester pitch and the tradition of the shed and the driving lineout game is still a threat for them but maybe not as often as before."
Quins have just come off a thumping 53-16 victory over South African outfit the DHL Stormers in the 'DHL derby', but the real challenge for the coaching staff comes with managing the squad between both competitions.
"It's a wrestling match between cohesion and developing your squad.
"We said this year in our approach to the long term future that we do need to, we need to build from within, we need to expose players at the right time and in the right games."
Quins recently gave promising 18 year old scrum half Lucas Friday his senior debut in the Premiership Cup, and last week gave one of his academy teammates his European debut too.
"The latest of that was Harry Browne who played his first European game from the second row, a young lad who did well when he came on and those experiences will stand us in good stead in the future.
"Europe last year showed us that we went on a massive run but to then ask the same players to go again when we got back into two must win prem games was a step too far.
"You need a squad where you can make adjustments and changes and still produce."
The post “Very dangerous attacking team” – Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson recognises Gloucester’s threats and non ‘traditional’ attacking style appeared first on Ruck.
