Harlequins’ 48-0 defeat puts summer signing under scrutiny
Gloucester beat Harlequins 48-0, prompting a BBC Sport reporter to question whether the club’s summer signing addressed its most pressing weakness.
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Gloucester’s 48-0 win over Harlequins was the starkest result of the Prem’s second round. Harlequins conceded 17 penalties and entered Gloucester’s 22-metre area only twice, according to BBC Sport. Coach Jason Gilmore called the performance “totally unacceptable” and said rebuilding the squad would take time as contracts expired and money was reassigned. [1]
In his 5 October roundup, BBC Sport rugby union reporter Mike Henson questioned whether signing full-back George Furbank was Harlequins’ best use of limited room under the salary cap. Henson argued that the forward pack, rather than the backline, was the more pressing weakness. [1]
Elsewhere, Bristol beat Northampton 34-26 before a crowd of 20,756 at Ashton Gate. Louis Rees-Zammit had scored four tries across the opening two rounds. Bristol, Gloucester and Bath were the only teams to have won both their matches. [1]
England coach Steve Borthwick attended Bath’s match at The Rec on Friday. Henson suggested Bath props Beno Obano and Will Stuart could be in contention for England’s Nations Championship campaign. He also raised Gloucester fly-half Charlie Atkinson as a possible back-up if Borthwick wants a player closer to Fin Smith’s style, while noting Atkinson’s goal-kicking record last season as a potential drawback. These are Henson’s selection forecasts, not announced England picks. [1]
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