Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Argentinian flair inspires Gloucester to Challenge Cup victory over Clermont

By PA
Santi Carreras of Gloucester gives the thumbs up. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Santiago Socino ran in two crucial tries before half-time to help Gloucester to a 28-17 Challenge Cup victory over Clermont at Kingsholm.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Argentina hooker’s double enabled Gloucester to take a commanding 22-10 lead into the interval and while their French opponents fought back, they had already done enough to post a second win of the competition.

Former England wing Jonny May also touched down and Santiago Carreras booted 13 points.

Scarlets endured a harrowing evening when they were thumped 23-7 at home by Georgian team the Black Lions.

Number eight Vaea Fifita crossed in the fourth minute but that’s where the Welsh region’s fortune ran out as they were duly routed by a team embarking on their maiden European season.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

F
Flankly 2 hours ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

4 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search