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Gloucester boss George Skivington called Friday’s visit to Kingsholm back-to-back Investec Champions Cup the winners Bordeaux Bègles as the ultimate test for his new-look side.
The cherry and white started the Gallagher PREM season well, winning the Exeter Chiefs and a 48-0 blowout Harlequins before digging deep to claim two bonus points from last weekend’s trip to Leicester Tigers.
But he knows the challenge from Bordeaux, who won Northampton Saints and Leinster in the last two finals, it will raise the bar and be as close to Test rugby as some of its teams will face.
“We’re excited because it’s a great night at Kingsholm. We know what a challenge we have on the pitch because we know how dangerous they are. But in the end, we get the chance to put our game to the ultimate test.”
“Some of our players can play against, actually, a Test rugby team. And because it’s the fourth week of the season, it’s still early in the season. So we’re still dealing with our game.”
“So we think it’s an exciting opportunity just to get our game out there. It’s the first game of the Champions Cup and an opportunity to have an exciting night. I mean, you know, we saw a few areas at Welford Road last weekend that didn’t go well.”
“We talked at length about why we didn’t quite get it right. I don’t think we’re good enough to do it. I don’t think we just targeted those areas well enough for whatever reason.”
“It’s the ultimate test. These guys have beaten everything home or away to get to the point where they’ve won back-to-back titles. So it’s pretty impressive. But it’s the ultimate test, and we’ll take it, take our game out there,” he said. RugbyPass.
Skivington urged the Gloucester fans, particularly the Shed, to make the Bordeaux players as uncomfortable as possible in the electric atmosphere.
“We need them on Friday night, 100%. I think this needs to be as hostile as it can be for Bordeaux coming in, and I think when our players have moments in the game, whether it’s defensively or offensively, whenever Kingsholm erupts and gets behind guys.
“We want it as you can feel it in the air. We need our supporters, really loud and passionate on Friday night, for sure,” the Cherry and Whites boss added.
