Gloucester Rugby travel to London Irish on Sunday for Round 5 of the Gallagher Premiership. Ahead of the fixture, we caught up with Freddie Clarke who opened up on all things Gloucester Rugby.

On the Sale Sharks game

“It started off well. For the first 60 minutes we were great. We were clinical, we put pressure on them, and our maul got going and we started to get a reward from that. The overriding feeling at the end was that the last 15 minutes were where we let them into it and there was a strong chance that we were not going to win.

“It’s five points, it’s a win and there’s growth but there’s obviously still plenty to work on.”

On getting the bonus point

“It was so key at the end. In the games against Northampton and Leicester, we were chasing losing bonus points and on the other side, if you’re winning a game, why not go for the five points? Why not starve the opposition from getting their losing bonus point?

“We didn’t achieve that but every point matters.”

On the success of the maul

“We realised how important our maul was going to be on the first day of pre-season. On the first day, we started doing maul training so we were looking at each other in a little bit of disbelief but it’s paying off now. It’s an area that as a forward pack we’re really starting to take pride in.”

On changing positions and playing in the second row

“It’s not been challenging. I’ve played there a few times. I’ve obviously been given the responsibility of calling the lineouts. Which I have thoroughly enjoyed. It’s given me a different dimension to my week. There’s a lot more emphasis on me learning about the opposition and I’m enjoying the responsibility and I’m enjoying the challenge.”

On London Irish

“They’ve got a lot of individuals in their team with a lot of international experience. I think collectively if you look at us, we have a lot of belief and hopefully that’s going to get us through on Sunday.”

On fans returning

“It’s special. It’s my sixth season at the club and in the past, you wouldn’t take it for granted but the supporters are there every week and it’s when it’s taken away from you that you then have the realisation of how much you depend on them.

“There was almost a lump in your throat running around the pitch on that first home game and it was amazing. It’s one of the reasons that I play the game.”

Clarke looks on the challenge of "international experience" vs Irish

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