Gloucester Rugby host Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm this Saturday in Round 13 of the Gallagher Premiership. Ahead of the fixture, Santiago Socino spoke to the press about the Cherry and Whites’ recent results, getting over the try line against Wasps and how preparations for the weekend are going.

On scoring try in Wasps win

“It’s was really important for the team. For the last couple of games we have tried to score with the maul. We prepared for it so it was more about getting something from it.

“I be lying if I said that I wasn’t happy to score but obviously being at the back of a maul is more of a team effort so I was happy for that. “

On joining Gloucester Rugby in a pandemic

“Obviously I was out of the game for a few months as the Jaguares weren’t playing at all. Then I had a couple of games for Argentina and then I was on stand still for eight or nine weeks. When I came here I had to quarantine and then it was just about getting back into the game.

“To be fair, I got into the game quite quick! It was only five days after quarantine finished that I was playing against Bristol. I feel like I’m settling in and I feel comfortable here. People are great here and they made me feel welcome and I’m enjoying it.”

On previous Premiership experience with Newcastle + understanding Fraser Balmain!

“To be fair I thought he was going to be more of a Geordie! He is a Geordie but he doesn’t have a strong accent but I met him before in Newcastle so I knew he didn’t have a super Geordie accent.

“There’s a massive change having no people in the stands. I’ve played a few times here at Kingsholm and I obviously heard The Shed and how loud the people watching were. When I first joined Gloucester Rugby, one of the first things that came to my mind was that I was going to have The Shed on my side this time so I’m looking forward to that.

“The league is similar. It’s a great standard and every squad has a few internationals and great players. It’s very similar to when I played for Newcastle and I feel good.”

On facing Leicester

“We know how hard it will be. They pride themselves on their forwards and the set piece so we know that we need to target them there. We’ve been working well at the lineout and the scrum over the last few weeks.

“When I first came, I felt we were taking it step by step and getting better but obviously the results, the first two games I was involved with were really close at the end. Then I felt we were getting better but we know it’s going to be hard aiming to get three wins. We target this game and we need to focus on ourselves. If we do what we need to and what we want to then the game should go well.”

Press Notes | Santiago Socino on Leicester Tigers

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