Gloucester Rugby’s head coach, George Skivington, lauded the immediate impact of his high-profile new signings following their emphatic 45-24 triumph over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
Newly appointed captain and hooker Dewi Lake stood out by crossing the try line twice, with valuable contributions also coming from Wales teammates Jac Morgan and South African lock Jean Kleyn, whose performances were instrumental in securing the bonus-point victory.
Skivington commented: “While the result itself is excellent, the character displayed-especially in our defensive sets-reflects what we’ve been encouraging this squad to embody this season.”
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He added, “It’s promising to see the fresh talent we’ve brought in blend seamlessly with the quality we’ve relied on over the years. Dewi had an impressive game, Jac was tenacious in the tough moments, and Jean made his presence felt early on. But overall, the team performed solidly across the board.”
Highlighting the importance of practice translating into matchday performance, Skivington remarked, “We’ve emphasised particular behaviours and goals, but it’s vital to witness these traits live on the field.”
He also praised new defence coach Joel Tomkins for his influential role in strengthening the team’s resilience. “Exeter applied significant pressure, particularly in the second half, and even when reduced to 14 men, our defence remained robust. Joel deserves considerable credit for this improvement,” said Skivington.
“Their physicality and work-rate off the ball were outstanding. Although it’s only the first round, this game provides a promising indication of the standards we aim to uphold going forward,” he concluded.