The European Challenge Cup has, in recent years, been Gloucester’s consolation ticket after Premiership campaigns that have flickered and died but they go into Friday night’s semi-final against Newcastle at Kingsholm for once fighting on two fronts at the tail-end of the season.
Gloucester are sixth in the Premiership, three points behind Newcastle, who occupy the final play-off position, and close to qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup, something they would achieve by winning the Challenge Cup in Bilbao next month.
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“We have a lot to play for,” said the Gloucester flanker Ruan Ackermann, who arrived at the club last summer from the Lions in South Africa. “We cannot look beyond Newcastle, a strong side who are the only team to have beaten us at home in the Premiership this season. They play good rugby and we will have to be at our best.”
Ackermann arrived at Kingsholm with his father, Johan, who took over as the club’s coach at the start of the season. The flanker has had to adjust to differences between the Premiership and Super Rugby, not least the weather and the way the breakdown is refereed.
“It is generally colder and wetter here and that is reflected in the greater number of scrums and mauls,” Ackermann said. “I have been impressed with the quality and it can get really physical. Away matches are very challenging and when teams come to Gloucester, they are up against our crowd who again last Saturday against Harlequins helped us get over the line.
“The hardest part has been adapting to the different way the breakdown is refereed. I am used to more of a contest for possession: as a back-rower, you want to be able to get over the ball on your feet and compete for a turnover but you are given less freedom in the Premiership where the emphasis is on daylight.
“England’s problems at the breakdown in the Six Nations may lead to a change in emphasis and I hope it does because at the moment you tend to feel the only chance you have of regaining possession is if a team knocks on or kicks the ball to you.
“It is not difficult for sides to hold on to the ball and I think defenders should be given more time to compete at the breakdown. Turnover ball is the best to attack from and there are backs throughout the Premiership who are equipped to exploit it and provide excitement.”
Ackermann Sr signed a three-year contract with Gloucester but Ruan’s deal ends next summer. At 22, he has international ambitions and, because of South Africa’s rule of overseas players not being considered unless they have won 30 caps or more, they can be fulfilled only by returning home.
“The next part of my career is to go one level higher,” Ackermann said. “Rassie Erasmus has taken charge of the Springboks and it may be the overseas rule changes so that more players are able to be considered. I will wait and see how everything goes.
“I am really enjoying my time with Gloucester and the best is still to come from us. My father relishes a challenge and he knows what it takes to build a team. I love the passion for the game at this club and we want to deliver for the supporters this season. Making the final would be a dream but we also want to finish as high in the league as we can.
“I will be returning to South Africa for a holiday in June and hope to take in one of the Tests against England. It will be an interesting series between two teams who have suffered a slump, but there is some rugby to play before that.”