After a two bonus point win out of two, Gloucester they sit pretty high on the Gallagher PREM table, ahead of their West Country rivals Bristol and Bath on point difference.
It may be early days, but the turnaround at Kingsholm is fast becoming one of the early stories of the season.
Winless after their first two games last season and eighth in the table, Gloucester flipped the script this term to see off Exeter 45-24 and Harlequins 48-0.
It is the first time since the start of the 2007/08 season, when they finished the regular season in first place but lost in the play-off semi-finals to an Andy Good goal, that the Cherry & Whites are looking down on the remainder of the PREM two-match tie.
As a side with local talent who also failed at the final hurdle a year earlier, Gloucester-born Lamb knows all too well how hope can ultimately end in disappointment.
“It’s great to see them get off to a really good start,” the former player told RugbyPass.
“I know it’s hard to play if it’s not going too well.
“Over the past few seasons they would have had a lot of stick, but you can see as a coaching group that they have stuck together and put together a really good team.
“Jac (Morgan) and Dewi (Lake) coming in had a huge impact.
“I know Jac from Scarlets. It was almost his first year of professional rugby when I was down there, and you could see then, in those six months, that he was a special player.
“So it’s a big catch for them to get those two guys and obviously the culture and mentality has changed.
“But I’m sure George (Skivington) and the other coaches will say it’s only two games, so don’t go overboard.”
Gallagher Premiership
P
W
L
D
PF
Well
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
In total
1
2
2
0
0
10
2
2
2
0
0
10
3
2
2
0
0
10
4
2
1
1
0
6
5
2
1
1
0
6
6
2
1
1
0
6
7
2
1
1
0
4
8
2
0
2
0
3
9
2
0
2
0
2
10
2
0
2
0
0
Skivington is supported by Chris Boyd, who laid the foundations for Northampton current successful run.
“He’s very experienced and I think he’s big on the culture because he’s a Kiwi. Solve that first by having good people in the building and you can see he’s had a big impact, and long may it continue because Gloucester deserves a top-class rugby team playing at the top of the league,” added Lamb.
“They’re getting that balance now (between striker and full-back) and Will Joseph has started the season on fire. That’s what you want, you want these young lads that you’ve been developing, to put in good performances for the first team.
“You could see Charlie Atkinson was a really good player when he was on Wasps and I think maybe he gave him the reins at 10, saying you’re our number one, gave him a new lease of life. You see, he really wants to take the game by the hair.
“And bringing in someone like Dan Robson has had an effect; he has a strong connection with the club and has been part of quite a successful side and is used to winning and playing at a higher level.”
Now 40, Lamb has settled in well on the Devon coast and has enjoyed a strong start to the season as head coach of National 1 pacesetters Plymouth Albion.
Albion, who would add so much to the champions if they were promoted, are one of two clubs, along with Tonbridge Juddians, who after five rounds have an unblemished record, with 25 points out of a possible 25.
The fifth win was their best yet, a 16-try win, 102-0 at home to Cambridge, who were one of two sides to be relegated from the Championship last season.
“The guys did well, they look strong,” Lamb said.
“On paper, our first six games – we have Sale away this week – seemed really, really hard. So to get five out of five and the maximum number of points in each one, and not give up the bonus point for four tries to the opposition, is a brilliant start for us.”
But just like Skivington’s mantra that a good start is all it is, a good start, Lamb keeps his feet firmly on the floor.
“We are very satisfied, but we are aware that it is a long season, there is still a lot of rugby to be played, so we do not go above our position.
“If you look at the points table, it’s still relatively tight. It’s a really strange league with a lot of surprises, so we have to stay in it.”