Gloucester Rugby’s hopes in the Investec Champions Cup ended with a 31-14 defeat to Toulon at Kingsholm, leaving them bottom of Pool 2 with just one win against Castres Olympique.
Toulon’s victory was powered by tries from Mathis Ferte, Lewis Ludlam, and a brace from Gael Drean. Gloucester’s points came courtesy of Tomos Williams, Jack Clement, and George Barton’s reliable boot. Despite the scoreline, Gloucester’s performance lacked the composure and incisiveness needed to challenge the French giants.
Rugby writer Jack Tozer evaluates the individual performances:
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George Barton – 5
Busy in attack and effective with the boot, Barton kicked two conversions successfully. However, defensive lapses saw him miss crucial tackles allowing Toulon’s early tries.
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Josh Hathaway – 5
Quiet in attack but vocal on the field. A moment of poor judgment saw him knock the ball into touch after beating a tackle, illustrating the learning curve for the young winger.
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Will Butler – 4
Had little impact in attack, overshadowed by teammate Atkinson’s ball carries. Was substituted shortly after the hour mark.
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Seb Atkinson – 6
The heart of Gloucester’s offense, Atkinson repeatedly challenged Toulon’s defensive line with strong carries, proving himself a key player.
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Jack Cotgreave – 4
Struggled to influence the game with limited ball and was often driven backward in his runs. Competed in the air but with little success.
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Charlie Atkinson – 6
Defensively solid, making crucial tackles to keep Gloucester in the game. His effort embodied the fighting spirit praised by the coaching staff despite limited attacking opportunities.
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Tomos Williams – 6
Provided flashes of brilliance and creativity, including a smart finish for Gloucester’s second try, highlighting his ability to create possibilities under pressure.
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Dian Bleuler – 4
The scrum was initially competitive but came under increasing pressure as the match progressed, leading to his early substitution.
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Will Crane – 5
Lineout accuracy was better than usual early on but errors still crept in, reflecting inconsistency in set-piece execution.
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Nepo Laulala – 4
Mirroring Bleuler’s performance, Laulala struggled in scrums and offered little in open play, contributing to the forward pack’s challenges.
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Danny Eite – 6
Showed resilience, playing through an ankle injury and delivering a solid performance in his return from a lengthy knee layoff.
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Matias Alemanno – 5
Displayed lapses in judgment at times in lineouts and open play, indicating the need for tighter set-piece focus.
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Will Trenholm – 6
Mobile around the pitch with notable moments including a strong break, yet like many teammates, lacked a significant impact.
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Lewis Ludlow – 5
Consistent with his defensive workrate but quieter than usual in other facets of play.
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Jack Clement – 7
A standout performer, Clement’s physical presence and determination were clear, scoring Gloucester’s opening try before his substitution. He was central to their attack and a key figure in their efforts.
Replacements offered mixed contributions, with Val Rapava Ruskin, Ciaran Knight, and James Venter steadying the squad, though none changed the match dynamics.
Overall, Gloucester showed fight but were undermined by lapses in composure and a lack of cutting edge, ending their Champions Cup challenge prematurely.