A FURIOUS scrummaging backlash is heading London Irish's way this weekend, warns Jim Hamilton.
The frustrated Gloucester captain believes the Cherry and Whites will end up stronger in the long run for their set-piece struggles at Leicester on Saturday.
Gloucester were battered at the scrum for the majority of their 17-12 Welford Road Premiership defeat – the first time the Cherry and Whites have come under such scrutiny this season.
Shaun Knight's first-half sin-bin capped a troublesome opening half-hour, but Hamilton was at least heartened by his pack's second-half improvements.
And now he believes Gloucester will throw everything at restoring their established set-piece power, at the very first chance.
The Cherry and Whites host London Irish at Kingsholm on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) gunning for a fourth win over the Exiles this season.
Victory would complete both Premiership and Amlin Challenge Cup doubles over the embattled Irish men, and Kingsholm skipper Hamilton is keen to complete that feat through revamped scrum power.
The 30-year-old explained: "Our scrum has been one of our biggest weapons so far this season.
"But you are always going to have days when things don't run smoothly.
"The challenge is to hit back to form on that front straightaway.
"But even with Shaun, you can see the way he regrouped after his yellow card and got back into things, that just shows you that we won't give up and we'll fight back.
"It's all a learning curve, and it's a great experience to come up against.
"The scrum has gone well, but it's definitely not the finished article.
"We need to keep working and working every single week.
"We'll take out our frustrations in the scrum on London Irish this week and we'll keep building.
"We'll definitely end up stronger for that experience in the scrum against Leicester.
"We're a grounded group of guys who work really hard, but this gives us more motivation and emphasis than ever to work really hard this week and to get better.
"We respect Leicester and what they do, and they show a template for others to follow, especially in terms of how they use their set-piece as a weapon.
"That's something we're looking to get better at.
"We've made a decent start overall, but there's still plenty of work to do."
Despite Leicester defeat Gloucester still clung on to a top-four league spot at the turn of the year.
Now former Edinburgh and Leicester lock Hamilton believes the Cherry and Whites have the credentials to turn their promising campaign into a play-off battle.
To do that, he admitted they must sharpen up – especially when it comes to keeping pressure off themselves – but backed Gloucester's resolve to see them through.
The Scotland second row continued: "When you come to games like that, the top games, it all comes down to small margins.
"We've got to be happy with where we're going, we've got to tidy up certain things.
"It's about relieving pressure, and there are a couple of areas in our game that we need to improve.
"But at the same time I know these players are capable of doing that.
"That relentless and stubborn streak, that's not for the short-term or for show any more – that runs right through this squad and this club now.
"To go to Leicester and be disappointed not to win is nearly unheard of in the past for Gloucester.
"But we are disappointed not to win.
"We had a couple of opportunities at the end, but Leicester are a very good team.
"I'm really happy with the side's resolve, especially with the scrum.
"We were clearly being dominated for the first 30 minutes, but to come away with a point, in hindsight we'll take it.
"And now it's not just about backing that up, it's about moving things forward."
