Head coach Dean Ryan has paid tribute to his Gloucester squad following their 33-10 victory over Northampton.
Gloucester boss delighted by the flexibility of his group
Head coach Dean Ryan has paid tribute to his Gloucester squad following their 33-10 victory over Northampton.
The Kingsholm side moved top of the Guinness Premiership as a result of that bonus-point win with the back division particularly potent.
Tries from Iain Balshaw, Lesley Vainikolo, Olly Barkley and number eight Luke Narraway helped secure the victory, while fly-half Ryan Lamb kicked three penalties and two conversions.
The hosts had suffered an early setback with the loss of centre Anthony Allen in the second minute, but that injury gave Barkley the chance to come on and excel.
"For Olly to enter the fray today was ideal. He is still with England every Monday and Tuesday and then with us which is why he was on the bench," Ryan said.
"He is going to start next week and this would have been another week to look and watch us but it didn't work that way.
"We still had six players out on international duty and we have benefited from some of the performances made by the youngsters today.
"We will make changes next week [against Calvisano in the Heineken Cup] because you cannot afford to have the same 15 players to get you through matches. We cannot afford to lose momentum and I would like to keep us on a roll through Christmas."
Mistakes
Northampton's points came from a Scott Gray try in the second half and a penalty and conversion from full-back Stephen Myler.
But the defeat leaves Jim Mallinder's side just a point above Newcastle Falcons at the foot of the table and the Saints head coach has said his side must learn to be more clinical.
"They were ruthless in the first half and scored some good tries," Mallinder added.
"We created a few, but made a lot of mistakes. It didn't help when they scored just before half-time but even then we knew that if we kept the ball we would have a chance.
"But we were inaccurate. You've got to be accurate and take all the chances you can here. We didn't get the rub of the green and there were some harsh decisions against us, when they didn't stay on their feet, but you've got to cope with that and we were well beaten.
"We are desperately disappointed, but it's not the end of the world losing here."
