George Skivington said there was “a bit of frustration” in Gloucester Rugby’s win over Sale Sharks, which saw the Cherry and Whites move closer to Champions Cup qualification.
Sale had a great start, leading 12-0 before Ben Loader’s try and George Barton’s conversion made it 7-12 going into the break. Gloucester then put themselves in the lead through Charlie Atkinson’s try before Barton put away another conversion before George Ford’s drop kick made it a tense ending with Atkinson getting his second of the day to win it for the Cherry and Whites.
Gloucester’s director of rugby was delighted with the result, but he felt certain errors in the game saw Gloucester make it harder for themselves to clinch victory.
“I think there’s both (pride and frustration). Our handling probably let us down through everything tonight. The positive is there were some big swings tonight. I think the boys reacted to that well even before the moment at the end; we earned the right to be in the lead, and it’s an easy spot to get rattled and lose it, but I think the boys reacted well.
The handling errors, that’s probably a reflection of where we’re at as a team that hasn’t won enough games, so you haven’t quite got those connections, but the work rate was really good, the collisions were really big, but we’ve still got loads to work on.”
Skivington’s reflection on the first half was one that was unfair on Gloucester, with the result not reflecting his side’s performance.
“I did come in at half time thinking, I don’t think the scoreboard reflects what was happening in the game, but I think the try changed a huge amount before we came in, but with Fordy’s drop goal, I think the lineout before that – if we win that, then that doesn’t happen – but we fought till the end, and I was happy with the scrum.”
The scrum’s been really good over the last two weeks, and you can see that, so I’m really pleased with how well it’s looked, especially going into a big part of the season now.”
Gloucester have three more games this season with Saracens and Northampton Saints away before a clash against Newcastle Red Bulls.
Skivington is confident his team can secure a spot in the top eight even with some mistakes this season when speaking to TNT Sport afterwards.
“The season has not been ideal, but what has been pleasing is that when we have gone after a few bits, everyone has sort of rowed in behind.”
“There has been loads of energy around the club. There are still three more games, and we want to try and throw as much at those as we can.”
When you have got the hard times like we’ve had this season, you genuinely find out about people – you see what they are like when it’s hard – and you have got to find your way through it.
“I think your reputation is built throughout the whole season, and if you think at the back end of the season you cannot turn up for a few games – win or lose, this is – people won’t forget that.”
