Gloucester full-back Jason Woodward presses case for England place

My thoughts for The Times on Gloucester's European Challenge Cup semi-final win over Newcastle Falcons.

He threw a couple of rash early passes, but after that it was a supremely eye-catching display by Gloucester full-back Jason Woodward, whose pace onto the ball, lines of running and off-loading dexterity were all top class.

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With Bath's Anthony Watson sidelined for six months by a torn Achilles sustained against Ireland in the Six Nations, the door is surely now more than ajar for New Zealand-born Woodward to tour South Africa with England this summer, not least because his attacking mentality is similar to Watson's.

Hard to tell who created the bigger buzz last night, Jason Woodward’s dancing boots or the #glawsfamily in The Shed. Either way, the Johan Ackermann era at Gloucester appears to be building a real head of steam. My thoughts for @TimesSport
⬇️ https://t.co/PQW01h6MN2

— Tom Bradshaw (@TomBradshaw1979) April 21, 2018

James Simpson-Daniel: Johan Ackermann has turned Gloucester pack around

James Simpson-Daniel believes European Champions Cup rugby next season is within Gloucester's reach - but claims a top-four finish is likely to be beyond the club.

Former Gloucester wing Simpson-Daniel believes new head coach Johan Ackermann is giving the Cherry and Whites' pack more bite, but says they remain a little short in depth in the outside backs.


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“Johan inherited a side that’s been coming in the bottom three for the last few seasons, but Ed Slater has been a great signing and that doggedness up front has won them games," said Simpson-Daniel.

“Ackermann’s judgement has been spot on. He’s focusing on building a bigger, nastier pack.

“It’s a shame Ross Moriarty is leaving but Ruan Ackermann is very similar to Ross, and the good thing is Johan is using youngsters like Jake Polledri and keeping them in the team to reward them for their good performances.”

‘Sinbad’ now believes that European Champions Cup rugby is within Gloucester’s sights.

“A side finishing in the top six is structured around winning at home and picking up some points on the road, and I think that is happening,” said Simpson-Daniel.

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“As for top four, no, I don’t think Gloucester are title contenders yet.”

Since Jonny May’s departure to Leicester on the eve of the new season, Simpson-Daniel believes Gloucester have been light at wing - a situation that has not been helped by recent shoulder injuries to Ollie Thorley and Henry Purdy.

“It’s an area where Gloucester are less strong,” said Simpson-Daniel. “It’s an understatement to say that when Jonny decided to leave it wasn’t ideal timing.

“Gloucester were left behind in strength and depth in that position."

James Simpson Daniel was playing at the PokerStars Festival London. Join the world's most popular online poker sites at PokerStars and visit BetStars News for a full Six Nations preview.

Matt Scott on Scotland 6 Nations recall: I've Billy Twelvetrees to thank

Matt Scott was on Wednesday named in Scotland's 6 Nations squad, having been overlooked by Vern Cotter for the Autumn Internationals. Just a week-and-a-half ahead of the recall, Scott told me he'd have Gloucester team-mate Billy Twelvetrees to thank if he got the call... Here's that piece, first published in The Rugby Paper:

Matt Scott couldn’t be doing much more to stake his claim for a Scotland recall ahead of the Six Nations – and he says he has an Englishman to thank.

Dropped from Vern Cotter’s squad for the Autumn Tests, Scott has been working with fellow Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees on refining his game.

And it has reaped some immediate dividends.

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TEAM EFFORT: Matt Scott and Billy Twelvetrees bring down Leicester's Manu Tuilagi

Scott is tied for second with Bath winger Semesa Rokoduguni in the list of top Premiership finishers this season, with eight tries to his name. Only Wasps’ Christian Wade has dotted down more times in the league.

But it is in defence where Scott has been focusing most of his efforts since making the summer move from Edinburgh to Kingsholm, with Twelvetrees – himself overlooked by his country – proving an inspiration.

MATT SCOTT FACTFILE:
AGE: 26
POSITION: Centre
INTERNATIONAL CAPS: 36
INTERNATIONAL DEBUT: 10 March, 2012 versus Ireland
CLUBS: Edinburgh, Gloucester

"The feedback I got after I was dropped was about the defence – they felt there were a couple of other centres who were maybe more defensively sound than me,” said 26-year-old Scott, who scored twice in Gloucester’s seven-try thumping of Worcester last weekend. “They told me to keep working on it and that’s what I’ve been doing.

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HEAD TO HEAD: Scott and Twelvetrees in action against one another in the 2013 Six Nations

“I have been working with Billy and I love the way he has this energy and passion for defending. I’ve not come across anything like it before.

“He is a class player – an England international and a British Lion – and it’s lovely to be able to learn off him and these other guys.”

Scott has 36 caps, with his last appearance for Scotland coming in June against Japan.

“I’m absolutely desperate to get back in the mix for the Six Nations,” he said.

“I was absolutely gutted to miss out in the autumn. But centre is such a competitive position now in the Scotland squad, whereas in the past it maybe wasn’t.

“I need to improve all aspects of my game to get in the squad and if I can get up there where the coaches can watch me then I can hopefully show them why I’m worthy of a place again.”

“Scoring tries gets your name in the headlines but it’s about the whole performance and there are other aspects of my performance that need working on. Sometimes scoring tries glosses over that.”

SCOTT EARNS RECALL - SOCIAL MEDIA:

BREAKING | Here's YOUR @Scotlandteam squad for the forthcoming RBS @SixNationsRugby Championship! #OurDay pic.twitter.com/o0sOpjZXEL

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) January 18, 2017

Player News | @MattScott_10’s fine form in Cherry and White earns his a recall to the @Scotlandteam squad for #RBS6Nations pic.twitter.com/Ofu3nOxmGr

— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) January 18, 2017

Jonny May: I've half an eye on Autumn International return for England

England flyer Jonny May is eyeing an international recall for the Autumn Internationals as he targets a speedy return from a serious knee injury.

After rupturing knee ligaments in December, Gloucester wing May was forced to play the role of frustrated bystander as England completed a Six Nations Grand Slam and whitewashed the Wallabies in Australia.

But now May has his sights set on a potential return against South Africa at Twickenham on November 12.

“Why not go for it?” he tells me. “But if the knee’s not right, I’ll be patient and sensible about it.

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“I’ve got plenty of time. I’m only 26.  I want to get a healthy knee and I’m confident my best days are ahead of me.”

May, who has 19 caps, was injured just a month after Eddie Jones arrived as new England boss, but a steady flow of messages from Jones has buoyed May’s confidence, as did his inclusion in Jones’s 45-man provisional squad for the Autumn Internationals.

“I got injured as soon as Eddie came in but he texted me as soon as he found out I’d got injured and has texted me every now and again to check up on me,” said May, whose club, Gloucester, are yet to record a win this season having lost against Leicester and drawn at Worcester.

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“I wasn’t expecting that but I was really pleased he did because it gave me a bit of motivation and showed I was still in his thoughts."

“I’m aware I’ve a long way to go and I’ve a lot to get right but I hope that I’ve still got some of my best days ahead of me. I definitely want to play for England again.”

May, who faces a battle with Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Nowell, Harlequins’ Marland Yarde and Bath’s Semesa Rokoduguni for the England wing berths, is scheduled to return to full fitness in the first week of October.

* This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in The Rugby Paper. For detailed coverage of rugby in the UK at every level, see The Rugby Paper every Sunday. 

Back in the saddle after crossbar accident

With the exception of a riveting trip to Welford Road on Sunday, it's been a relatively quiet spell for me since I popped to Kingsholm for The Independent to cover what was one of the most abysmal Premiership matches of the season - a game redeemed only by the collapse of a crossbar by a giant inflatable ball during some pre-match horseplay by club sponsors dressed up as reindeers:

Anyway, after an extended exercise in festive indolence, I'm properly back in the saddle this weekend. It's Newport-Gwent Dragons V Bath for The Rugby Paper and BBC Radio Bristol tomorrow, followed by commentary at Bristol v Aberavon in the British & Irish Cup on Sunday. Scotland and Bristol prop Kyle Traynor will be summarising alongside me. As ever, tweet me your views mid-match.