Writing in the Independent, Chris Hewitt previews the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final between Gloucester and Cardiff Blues.
"There is something distinctly odd about one English club's desperation to win an Anglo-Welsh tournament that English clubs in general would rather did not exist, but when it comes to Gloucester nothing is entirely straightforward. Despite their Powergen Cup title in 2003, their European Challenge Cup victory in 2006 and three table-topping finishes in the Guinness Premiership in the space of half a dozen seasons, the West Countrymen still find themselves routinely dismissed as serial underachievers.
"As a result, they go into this afternoon's EDF Energy Cup final with Cardiff Blues under a whole heap of pressure. Their first objective – qualification for next season's Heineken Cup – is sorted: even if they lose today and fail to pick up another league point, they will be one of the chosen 24 in the elite competition. But Dean Ryan, their director of rugby, is expected to win things, not merely participate. Should Gloucester come up short against the form side in Wales and then miss out on a Premiership play-off place, the natives will grow very restless indeed."
RSS feed
