Glos Come Back - Again...
 I never thought I’d see the day when Carlos Spencer ran out in a Gloucester shirt at Kingsholm, but it happened and the early signs are good. Of course, all of the other stuff – the All Black caps, the Super 14, and the stint at Northampton – was just a preparation for the most important rugby of his career, and as we all know, that’s in Cherry and White!
Never mind that the internationals were away, this was a typically red-blooded Premiership encounter and no quarter was asked or given. Sale came out with all guns blazing and dominated the early possession, with the Glaws backline looking as though they’d just been introduced to each other in the changing room – hang on a minute, they had. Sale were soon ahead by ten points but this was one of those days where it always looked likely that Glaws would come back – I believe that the London Irish recovery has done wonders for the psyche of the players.
By half-time Glaws had regained their poise, and Spencer was playing some really solid rugby. Comparisons with Ryan Lamb are inevitable and, to be honest, don’t favour the younger man. From what I saw the Glaws game plan didn’t change, and Spencer didn’t simply ignore it: what he did was execute it better than Lambie has done all season. There hasn’t half been some nonsense talked about Spencer’s arrival – the owner’s signing designed purely to put bums on seats, purely a pension top-up move, and so on – but the facts are different.
This is a Dean Ryan signing, borne out of his frustration at his squad’s inability to play the game he wants them to play. The riposte to those who moan about the way Ryan Lamb has been treated is a simple one too: the lad has had many chances, and very few coaches would have shown the loyalty that Dean Ryan has shown towards his player, but I’m far from sure that Lamb would have steered us to victory yesterday. He came off the bench late in the game and he did OK – the hope must be that, in Spencer’s short stay with us, he passes on his experience to Ryan Lamb. In my view the lad would be daft or badly advised if he attempted to cut and run from Gloucester.
This wasn’t just the King Carlos show though, as others in the team had good days.  Olly Barkley is settling in well and his partnership with Spencer is going to be a fascinating on to watch in the coming weeks – and I can’t wait for Tinds to come back at 13. Balshaw was excellent yesterday and really was at the heart of most good attacking moves from Glaws, and Sinbad showed touches too. No-one can accuse Dean Ryan of holding back on the youngsters in the squad, and after Trinder being blooded against the Not Nots, Charlie Sharples was trusted with a decent stint against Sale.
The pack’s performance was a strange one: the front row seemed to have parity early on, but then there was a spell when the monster Roberts, Bruno and Turner seemed to have us in a lot of trouble. However, the tide then turned – fitness I assume was the key – and Glaws were dominant by the end. Olly was, as always, a talisman and his captaincy record is two from two – he was also good at the line-out as were Will James and Alex Brown. Our back rwo was magnificent: Haze was everywhere, Delve built on his comeback and was as strong as ever, and Satala looked happier at 6 then he has ever done at 7.
Will Greenwood – Mr Doom and Gloom – made a point a few weeks ago about what a tough run of games Glaws were heading into, and it’s so far so good, with wins against the second and third placed sides. We’re in our rightful place at the top of the  Premiership and we’re starting to look good – as Dean Ryan pointed out, the likes of Somerville, Delve and Azam give a ‘never say die’ look to our pack, and with Spencer’s experience at 10 we’ve got some winners in our side.
The message for the Spencer doubters is a simple one: we’re lucky enough to see one of the greats of world rugby playing for our side, albeit in the twilight of his career, so sit back and enjoy the ride – there will be time enough to analyse his failings when he has gone. For now he’s one of ours and we should be thankful that our coaches brought him to Kinsgholm.
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