Shaky Looks into the crystal ball  again and ponders the visit of Biarritz
And so the Heineken Cup and a chance to test ourselves against the best sides that Europe can offer.....and B**f.
The last few games have been interesting to say the least. We still appear to be way too fragile defensively in midfield but also appear to have re-discovered some of the cut and thrust that makes us such a dangerous attacking side. The thing is I still can't quite shake the feeling that something is missing from our squad this term. I don't know what it is, it may just be me, but something in my gut just doesn't feel right about this Glaws side.
Biarritz arrive on the back of some mixed form in the Top 14, they are yet to win away from home and have suffered some fairly hefty defeats against Dax and Clermont, but are unbeaten at home. However they certainly have a proven European pedigree, even if they have never won the competition. They can boast the likes of Brusque, Harinordoquy, Yachvili, Peyrelongue and Traille, not to mention that nippy little bugger Ngwenya from the USA who left Brian Habana for dead at the last world cup. Not bad considering Habana can outrun a cheetah (mind you so can I when the khazi calls after 10 pints and a vindaloo). Granted some of those names are currently injured and may not feature against us but they still come with a side that could turn us over. The age old problem for French teams is that they invariably do not travel well but, having said that, we have often struggled at Kingsholm in this competition against them. We have lost at Castle Grim to both Stade and Agen and were very fortunate to get a draw against Colomiers a few years back. It would be no huge surprise to see us struggle again this weekend.
It will be good to welcome back a Glaws old boy in the shape of Dimitri Yachvili but I am one of those who was never entirely convinced by him in a Glaws shirt and still don't get what the fuss is about now. Sure he kicks his goals but I think he's over-rated and certainly not the world class star some would have you believe.
For us the fly-half conundrum remains, does DR opt for Lamby, WW, or Barkley? OB gave us great stability against Newcastle but offered little going forward. Lamby showed us against Wasps what he can do when he spots a try-scoring opportunity. I doubt that we would have scored either of our two tries in that match had WW or OB been playing instead of him. WW hasn't let us down but I have my doubts about whether he has the necessary quality, over the course of a season, to bring home a championship or cup.
Given the injury situation the front 5 pretty much picks itself with, maybe, the only bone of contention being whether Scott Lawson should start ahead of Z. The back row, similarly, is not exactly bursting with options due to our injury list and, assuming Naz is fit it will be a case of whether DR wants Stroker at 6 or 7. Either way one of Bucko or Haze will almost certainly miss out.
Prediction time then and, I think, at home we will have too much for our friends from Biarritz but it will be tough and they may well leave with what could be a priceless bonus point.
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