Deacon Throws Down Intent
Brett Deacon has thrown down a clear sign of intent as he feels he has a point to make at his new club Gloucester having moved from Premiership champions, Leicester.
The player was one of the very few who had a small impact on Leicester's campaign last season. Many have already said that the move to Gloucester is a negative one and he should have stayed to fight for his place in the Leicester team.
However, it seems that Deacon wants to hit the ground running at his new club and he seems a little tired of the constant questioning of his game. He has promised all Gloucester fans that he will do his best to have a maximum effect over the side next season.
He has a number of good attributes, which will make him a popular player in the back row of the Gloucester side as this is where they need more cover. There are also strong suggestions that if he starts the season well he could be given the captain's role, which it seems he would relish.
Attributes
To play in the back row of any side you need to be very strong and carry a big physical presence. He is not a small player by any means but Gloucester will have to work hard over the close season to bulk him up and make him a little more intimidating.
Deacon is very loud and he is effective at relaying instructions to other areas of a team quickly. He will often be the last line of defence and these skills will be important for him to try and organise the defence around him and beside him.
He will be a very popular player in the dressing room because it seems that a few players were sad to see him leave Leicester. This will further enhance his leadership qualities because it will mean that he will become a candidate that other players turn to in relation to any matter that may be troubling them.
Ambition
Deacon could easily have sat on the bench for the rest of his career at Leicester and taken a comfortable and high wage. Many other players would have done this and he must be praised for showing the ambition to join a new club.
The transition will not be easy but the point is that he is not content with just a comfortable rugby career down at Leicester. He seems like a player that thrives on being constantly challenged and this is something he will be given at Gloucester.
His new club is improving all the time and they will start the new season as though they have nothing to lose. Although they are not one of the favourites to win the Premiership title, a top of the table position is not out of the question and this could lead to qualification for some form of European rugby.
Advice
There is no harm at all in having a little punt on Gloucester to win the league next season but make sure you do not risk too much on it because the odds stand as they are for a reason. If the side starts playing well then you can expect one or two results, which will mean they slide down the table slightly at some stage.
Deacon will not be a player who scores a high number of points in the Gloucester side because of his position. Look at the statistics for last year and back the best players who are still at the club as they will make you more during individual games.
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