Heineken Cup: Gloucester boss Nigel Davies sings praises of Jonny May
Nigel Davies believes Gloucester are "starting to go in the right direction" after their Heineken Cup win in Perpignan.
Last Updated: 19/01/14 6:22pm
The Aviva Premiership side put their domestic struggles to one side as they recorded a 36-18 win in France - a result that means they qualify for the knockout stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
They scored five tries on their travels and will now take on Wasps at Adams Park in the quarter-finals of Europe's second tier competition
"To be in a quarter-final in Europe in is big for us," Davies said. "The more exposure we get at this level the better.
"It will be a great occasion for us and it will be a great thing in terms of the development of this team. The more experience you gain, that's when you start to move forward and win these big matches.
"We've started going in the right direction. We got knocked backwards but Munster was a step forwards and today was yet another."
Special May
Davies saved particularly praise for Jonny May, who sliced through four defenders to score the try of the contest from long range after picking up a loose ball on the edge of his own 22.
"He's got those moments in him and every team needs players like that, players who can finish a half chance or create something from nothing," he said.
"We knew if we could turn them over we could cause them problems and he's a superb finisher.
"It's an exceptional result for us. The last time we won an away game in France in the Heineken Cup was the 2007/08 season. Not many sides come away with a win here but we've managed it with a bonus point.
"To a man the players stood up individually and performed. We backed ourselves to play rugby and have a go at Perpignan.
"There were a couple of areas where we were second best in the first half but we put that right in the second. The boys knew what was in front of them and overall it was a very good performance."