Skivington: ‘We want to push ourselves'
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Skivington: ‘We want to push ourselves'

CAPTAIN George Skivington insists London Irish can climb the Aviva Premiership table by winning their remaining two games of the season.

Away to Gloucester on Saturday the Exiles then host Wasps a week later and Skivington wants to end the campaign on a positive note.

“We have been a tight knit team all year,” Skivington said. “It hasn’t all gone our way, granted, but we have got some good guys here and guys are moving on to new things so as a group it is important we send everyone off on the right note and play the best we can.

“Regardless of how things have gone on the pitch, we have always stayed united as a group and it would be nice to finish positively with some good results for those boys, and those who are staying, so you can go into the summer break positively.

“There is still the chance to climb higher in the table too, which we want to do. We want to push ourselves and fight to get higher up, and to do it for our supporters who have been great all year it would be nice to end positively for them too.”

Playing Gloucester, who recently won the European Challenge Cup, at Kingsholm is a demanding challenge according to Skivington.

“Their whole back line is dangerous, but their back three in particular,” Skivington admits. “But so is ours, and we have shown throughout the season that if some of our guys are given space they can score some great tries.

“They have threats everywhere, they use that back three a lot and with great success, they are very dangerous. Also up front we have a lot to deal with and will have to make sure we deal with them early on.

“They are in good form and playing some good rugby at the moment. Obviously they have just been crowned Challenge Cup Champions so they will be buzzing and pretty confident.”

“I think it will be hostile as usual.  The crowd never give you much there which is good for us to be honest with you.

“It is unique playing at Kingsholm.  They aren’t afraid of giving you a bit of stick and a bit of abuse.

“But I have played there a lot now and I quite enjoy it. It is a good environment and hopefully it will be a good experience for some of the younger guys like Richard Palframan who may not have experienced something like it before.”