Gloucester top the Premiership after back-to-back demolitions of Exeter and Harlequins

Gloucester have stormed to the top of the Gallagher Premiership with back-to-back bonus-point victories, beating Exeter 45-24 and then dismantling Harlequins 48-0 to sit above West Country rivals Bristol and Bath on points difference. It is the first time since the opening two rounds of the 2007/08 season that the Cherry & Whites have led the division this early in the campaign.

The contrast with twelve months ago is stark. Gloucester were winless and eighth in the table after their first two fixtures last season; now they are the early pacesetters, and the turnaround at Kingsholm is already one of the defining storylines of the new term.

Former Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb, who played in the side that reached the playoff final in consecutive seasons during that 2007/08 era, believes the club’s recruitment and culture shift under head coach George Skivington have been central to the improvement. “I know it is a tough place to play if it is not going too well,” Lamb said. “Over the past couple of seasons they’d have taken a lot of stick, but you can see as a coaching group they have stuck together and they have put a really good squad together.”

Lamb singled out the arrivals of Wales internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake as transformative signings. “Jac and Dewi coming in have made a massive impact,” he said. “I know Jac from Scarlets — it was almost his first year of professional rugby when I was down there, and you could see then, in that six months, that he was a special player. So to get those two guys is a big catch for them.”

Skivington has been bolstered by the addition of director of rugby Chris Boyd, the New Zealander who helped lay the foundations for Northampton’s recent success. Lamb is encouraged by Boyd’s influence. “He is very experienced and I think he is big on culture, being a Kiwi. You sort that out first by getting good people in the building, and you can see he’s had a big impact — and long may it continue, because Gloucester deserves a top rugby team playing at the top of the league.”

Lamb also highlighted the contributions of winger Will Joseph, who has started the season in sharp form, and fly-half Charlie Atkinson, who has thrived since being handed the number-ten jersey outright. “Giving him the reins at ten, saying you’re our number one, has given him a new lease of life,” Lamb said. “You can see that — he really wants to take the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Scrum-half Dan Robson, who returns to the club with previous Premiership-winning experience, has also been credited with raising standards. Despite the optimism, Lamb urged caution, noting that Skivington and his staff will be wary of complacency. “I am sure George and the rest of the coaches will be saying it is only two games, so don’t get too ahead of yourselves.”