'Despite the carnage... the actual product on the field has never been better'

Gloucester head coach George Skivington believes the Gallagher Premiership’s on-pitch product “has never been better” after his team shaded an eight-try thriller against Bristol.

The season’s opening month has been dominated by Wasps and Worcester being suspended from the Premiership amid financial difficulties which threaten their existence.

Worcester are already in administration, Wasps look set to follow suit on Monday and the combined effect has left English professional club rugby’s flagship competition in a state of meltdown.

The quality of rugby being produced is unquestioned, though, with high-octane encounters being played out across the league.

Gloucester’s 31-28 victory over Bristol at Kingsholm proved another shining example, with Adam Hastings’ 76th-minute penalty decisive.

“Pat (Bristol rugby director Pat Lam) and I spoke before the game about how, despite all the carnage in the background, the actual product on the field has never been better,” Skivington said.

“I am sure for a neutral it was a great game. Not so much the coaches.

“We are finding ourselves on the back foot and digging ourselves out. Those games have gone the other way (in the past).

“Bristol at home two years ago, it was heading for a draw and we gave away a penalty in pretty much exactly the same spot and lost. We are in more of these games than we were previously.

“I thought our scrum was outstanding, but our lineout and maul probably didn’t fire to the level we are used to firing at. We will take that as a blip and work hard on that.

“The old adage of a win’s a win is so true. The doggedness, I am always proud of this team from that point of view.”

Gloucester led three times, only for Bristol to pull themselves level on each occasion, before prop Val Rapava-Ruskin’s second try just after the hour mark tied things up after the visitors had gone in front.

Flanker Jordy Reid, Rapava-Ruskin and lock Freddie Clarke claimed first-half touchdowns, yet Bristol ensured a rollercoaster encounter through equalising tries for Sam Bedlow, his fellow centre Piers O’Conor and prop Ellis Genge.

Andy Uren’s 56th-minute try edged Bristol ahead and Callum Sheedy kicked his fourth successful conversion, but Hastings’ fourth conversion after Rapava-Ruskin crossed for a second time set up the opportunity for the fly-half’s winning strike.

Despite Bristol being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Lam took heart from a vastly-improved display after his side lost 50-14 against Exeter last time out.

“We looked a lot better this week,” Lam said. “We needed to stay in our system in the second half, which we did, although it was unfortunate we butchered a couple of tries.

“You always worry if you are not creating opportunities, but we created heaps today. We had plenty of chances, but unfortunately we didn’t finish them.

“It is not an easy place to play, Kingsholm. Fair play to George (Skivington) and what they have done here.

“It was a real test and it was neck and neck right until the end. At this level you are tested about getting the little things done really well.

“The Premiership is tough. Any points you can get are massive. We took two today and we are gutted we missed out on three more.

“There is some very good rugby being played in the Premiership at the moment. The product is awesome.”