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Springbok hero Handre Pollard credited with 'best kicking game in the Premiership'
By PA
Gloucester head coach George Skivington believed his side was “pinged off the park” after seeing them crash to a third consecutive home defeat with a 38-20 loss to Leicester.
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Saracens and Bath had previously triumphed at the ground but trailing only 14-13, Gloucester were well in contention to break their losing run but two yellow-cards in quick succession for George Barton and Jack Clement ruined their chances.
In their absence, Leicester scored 14 points and it ultimately proved decisive with Ollie Hassell-Collins scoring two of their tries. Julian Montoya and Solomone Kata were also on the try-scoring sheet as Tigers picked up their first try-bonus point of the season. Handre Pollard added four penalties and three conversions for a match-tally of 18 points.
George McGuigan and Jamal Ford-Robinson scored Gloucester’s tries with Barton kicking two penalties and two conversions.
Skivington said: “We started by playing some good stuff but once again didn’t execute our plan well enough as the last pass didn’t find its way to Zam (Louis Rees-Zammit) or Santi (Carreras).
“We knew they would be physical but ultimately their kicking game got on top of us as we dropped the ball and conceded penalties.
“Leicester, with Pollard and Ben Youngs, have the best kicking game in the Premiership and as a result of it, we were penalised left right and centre. We were pinged off the park.
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“They were hot at the breakdown today and we know it is five defeats in a row now so there was some honest talking in the changing room afterwards.”
South Africa’s World Cup winner Pollard missed only one kick from eight attempts to help steer his side to a morale-boosting victory and climb above Gloucester in the Premiership table.
Pollard said: “We weren’t perfect today but we stuck at it. Obviously there is a transition going on at the club with new coaching staff and internationals coming back but everyone is chipping in to make us get better week by week.
“Our set-piece wasn’t as good as normal but it gave us a chance to try and use other methods to get us over the line.”
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Leicester head coach Dan McKellar said: “We are pretty happy to come here and score some good tries and come away with a bonus-point victory.
“The first half wasn’t the prettiest game to watch but our kick and chase and defence was outstanding.
“The second half saw our maul become dominant so we were pretty pleased with that facet and it is evident that we are moving in the right direction.”
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The writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
Go to commentsI would be surprised if Sales Opoku Fordjour and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman are not in the team, Anthony Watson is also one that could go on the wing. One thing I must say is that the front 3 will get destroyed against a team like South Africa.
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