THERE was once a Gloucester blueprint unwritten – but universally understood.
Go to The Tump in the first-half and kick for the clock in the second.
Sadly there are many supporters who know nothing of a tump of any sort.
But if you have your back to Worcester Street and face the hospitality boxes you will be along the right lines.
It was no more than a mound of earth until hospitality was invented – but it was always spoken of in quiet reverence.
Gloucester's slender 18-16 Exeter Chiefs victory could be just what the good Kingsholm doctor ordered.
The Cherry and Whites could so easily have lost – and probably deserved to.
But they rode out the storm, and the narrowest of victories could be the ideal teaching tool to bring the squad back to the realistic aspects of the game.
Premiership rugby has to have a practical kicking game to sit alongside the thrilling back forays.
The skill comes in keeping opponents guessing so that they are not quite sure what is coming next.
Leicester can be beaten on Saturday, and Gloucester have a game to do it, but they will require an ever-changing focal point to the attack to make the Tigers uncertain.
The Tigers enjoy certainty and predictability: make them guess while playing at the top of their game and this Gloucester side is not a million miles away from a good day at Welford Road.
The role reversal on show between Exeter and Gloucester was almost absurd.
Gloucester used to have a wonderfully-widespread reputation for packs that sucked the life out of opponents, never afraid to stick to that strength.
Visitors felt compelled to fling the ball wide with gay abandon to negotiate around the home pack.
Exeter are now the Roundheads though, and Gloucester the Cavaliers.
The Chiefs were mightily impressive with continuity and incessant driving, almost gaining perverse pleasure from making the going tougher on themselves.
They must add something extra to their game – too often they fail to realise when defences are virtually overrun.
Exeter must ask themselves serious questions on how they managed not to win.
That said the home side's defending was quite magnificent: lesser teams would have wilted.
Decision-making must still improve though.
Centre things around the strategic kicking game again, and Gloucester will be well-placed for the second half of the season.
