Burns out of season start
Freddie Burns has been ruled out from starting the season for Gloucester as he continues to struggle with a quadricep injury.
The Gloucester full-back will now be forced onto the sidelines in order to recover before the club can even think about risking him. There had been hope that pain killers would see him through opening matches but there's no point taking the risk with such a heavy muscular problem.
Coach Bryan Redpath said: "There are definite no no’s for Paul Doran-Jones and Freddie Burns. It is positive news, we went into last week with a lot more missing, Azam was ill as well. This weekend we have five or six come back into selection."
There is now a big strain on the full-back position at the club. There are many dangers for a club heading into a new season with only limited cover in any position. This news is hardly ideal for a club trying to upset the odds over a long season.
Limited cover
The club can cope without the presence of Burns in the side because Olly Morgan can start in the full-back position. However, the club has to wrap Morgan up in cotton wool because if he gets injured it will mean that someone has to come out of position and play.
It could cause the club to be a little conservative at full-back during early matches of the new Premiership season. This is because the club will not want to risk stretching the squad thin before the matches have really started. This is also negative because the club will want every single player up for the fight.
Morgan is a very different player to Burns. Although they play in the same position, Burns has a greater passing range that allows him to link up parts of the team and be more creative. This could force Gloucester in to a complete re-think over their game plans.
Redpath added: "You have just got to get on with it. Robinson, Taylor and Morgan can fill in at full back so we will deal with it."
Betting advice
Gloucester have the ability to push for the top of the table this season. However, they are already on the back foot so avoid backing them if you were thinking of doing so. Back them with each game because they will still play a weaker team off of the park.
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