Tom Savage has been named Gloucester captain for their crucial home match against Pau in the European Challenge Cup tomorrow night.
A bonus-point victory for the Cherry and Whites would secure them a home quarter-final for the fourth successive season in the competition, but they will face a stern test from their French opposition.
Pau won the reverse fixture at the Stade du Hameau 27-21 in a physical encounter, and Savage expects the same at Kingsholm.
” They are really big up front and they pride themselves on their set piece play so we need to get some ascendency up front. We played a mixed team and we started poorly. But we have worked on our starts and we are getting results.”
Current club captain, Willi Heinz, is unlikely to feature as defence coach Jonny Bell explains:
“It’s just making sure he gets the appropriate rehab and obviously the appropriate time to make sure that’s sorted because that has been a little bit of a problem for him over the last few weeks.”
Savage, now 28, is no stranger to captaining the Cherry and Whites, having led the side during the 2013-14 season.
And the second-row expressed his delight in being given the chance to lead the side once again at Tuesday’s press conference.
“It’s nice to be given the armband because you’re almost a voice for the team on the day, and communicating with the referee between the decision makers on the field.
“You are not the main man, you’re just a guy that gets given the role on the day.
“The guys have made it really easy for me to do that, and I’m sure the boys will really perform on Friday night.”
