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Gloucester begin the George Skivington era after summer of seismic change

George Skivington, (L) the Gloucester head coach talks to fly-half Danny Cipriani - GETTY IMAGES
George Skivington, (L) the Gloucester head coach talks to fly-half Danny Cipriani - GETTY IMAGES

There have been plenty of incomings and outgoings at all of the Gallagher Premiership’s dozen clubs since a rugby ball was last kicked back in March, but when it comes to making seismic changes to the foundations, none of the other teams can match the transformation at Gloucester.

Not content with only swapping head coaches - George Skivington has replaced Johan Ackermann - Gloucester have also ditched the director of rugby-head coach model that had been in place at the club since 2012, signalling the end for David Humphreys after six years at the club.

Factor in the departure of assistant coach Rory Teague, at one point considered to be a strong internal candidate for the head coach role, and you have a major overhaul.

Skivington’s arrival from London Irish was hardly plain sailing either, with his former club claiming that Gloucester breached Premiership Rugby’s Code of Conduct by making an illegal approach for his services.

The appointment of Skivington’s assistant coaches have been smoother, with Alex King having started his role as attack coach on Monday after working in France with Montpellier. Dom Waldouck, in his first coaching role, will handle defence, completing a backroom staff that includes the retained Tim Taylor (backs) and Trevor Woodman (forwards).

Jonny May passes the ball during the Gloucester training session - GETTY IMAGES
Jonny May passes the ball during the Gloucester training session - GETTY IMAGES

“We’re in as good a place as we can be,” Skivington said this week. “The little bits and pieces we have implemented as a coaching group, we are pleased to have got those in. We haven’t made any drastic changes because we have only had a couple of weeks.

“The backline are really enthused to see [Alex King] here. As with all of us, it will take a bit of time to implement things, but just to have him about the place, a few words here or there, I think his influence will be felt quite quickly.”

Going from third and a first play-off appearance since 2011 last season down to ninth is still an eyebrow raiser, but Gloucester were losing too many tight matches and regularly fell apart away from home, losing their last nine away matches.

Comparing how Gloucester were playing before lockdown to last season, the scrum leaked more penalties and the lineout dropped off as well, while the attack, which sparkled in Danny Cipriani’s first season at the club, was doing less damage - fewer carries, metres, breaks and defenders beaten - a reflection of Gloucester’s failure upfront this season to dictate matches and control possession.

Gloucester's struggles - 2019-20 compared to 2018-19
Gloucester's struggles - 2019-20 compared to 2018-19

The areas for Skivington and his coaching staff to address, therefore, are obvious. Right from the off, the Wasps, Leicester Tigers and Irish lock has stressed the importance of making Gloucester’s pack an intimidating force again. From the players’ perspective, according to talented back-row Jake Polledri, the message from Skivington is not that dissimilar to his predecessor; you are here to graft.

“They are very similar people in that they want you to do your best and work hard, give 100 per cent on the training field and pitch,” Polledri said. “There are no massive, drastic changes here. Although someone has come in to take over, we are all on the same page.”

Gloucester might be ninth ahead of facing Worcester today [SAT], but they sit only four points outside the Champions Cup places and nine away from the play-offs. For Skivington, the youngest head coach in the league, the next nine rounds will act as an audition period for him to assess which players can get the club back to competing in the top four.

“Any team is built on good characters who work hard. I am not expecting it to be perfect by any stretch of the imagination,” Skivington explains.

“The big thing is, as I’ve said a few times, is I want to see people’s characters. At the end of this nine games what will be will be, but I will have a good grasp on who the members of the squad are who can drive it forward. And the staff as well, I am looking forward to testing us all. We have all got on well and I am very lucky with the people who were here before I got here, I am really enjoying working with them. You add in some pressure and everyone gets a bit tighter and gets to know one another better.”