Gloucester Rugby held powerhouse European champions Bordeaux Begles to a draw in an intense affair at Kingsholm on Friday night.
Vice-Captain Jac Morgan experienced his first European night at the ‘Holm where the famous atmosphere aided his new side to two well earned points in pool three of the competition.
Speaking on the difference between previous atmospheres the former Welsh skipper has experienced at his boyhood club Ospreys, Morgan was impressed by the noise that filled the Gloucestershire air.
“You speak to a lot of boys and they say how much of a good atmosphere it is in Gloucester and it really goes to show in the games we played at home this season and tonight, the crowd is massive and really gives us an extra little bit of a boost.”
Gloucester’s Jac Morgan tackled by Yoram Moefana of Bordeaux
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady/@ECPR
Rivals Bath Rugby head over to Kingsholm for another Friday night under the lights this weekend. Morgan looked towards that test.
“Yeah, it’s the derby, isn’t it? I haven’t thought too much of it with the games we’ve been having, you know, we take it week by week but, looking forward to that challenge and experience that game at home.
“Like you said, in front of the supporters and the atmosphere that’s here gives us a real good burst and, looking forward to hopefully playing next week at home with the crowd this year.”
The jump from the URC and Challenge Cup to the Gallagher PREM and Champions Cup has not seemed to be a challenge for the vice-skipper, thriving by scoring two tries in his first four games for the Cherry and Whites.
“It’s always different, every team, every club play a different kind of rugby and, yeah, we just knew it’s a lot more attacking and that’s one thing I’ve found since being here… I’ve really enjoyed the first couple of months here and, yeah, just keep on building.”
The Bordeaux Begles side was a tough competition for a new look Gloucester Rugby pack, although the scrum was able to force six scrum penalties, the French side only gave up one in their Champions Cup winning campaign.
“It was a good challenge today and I thought the boys, the whole team, the starting boys and the boys who came on at the bench brought a lot of energy and, the effort they put into that game to keep going against that Bordeaux pack and against that Bordeaux team was good.
“It’s a hell of a shift for the boys to put in for the 18 minutes to be able to put to heart the result that we did and obviously put ourselves in that position where we probably could have taken opportunities to win that game.”
All heads turn to Friday night as rivals Bath will face the in-form Gloucester, Bath will look the bounce back in the league after dropping 71 points to Northampton two weeks ago.
