JOB DONE. The Cherry and Whites gained a vital bonus point at the home of the best team in Europe and the way they took the game to Toulouse on Sunday gives Gloucester real hope that when the Frenchmen come to Kingsholm in January the result can not only be reversed, but reversed with interest.

And it could have been even better. Sensational scores by Charlie Sharples and Henry Trinder, two of the brightest young stars in the Gloucester galaxy, meant that with just ten minutes to go an historic victory was on the cards. With Gloucester’s forwards stepping up to the plate,Mike Tindall making a mockery of England’s decision to impose a whopping fine as well as drop him from the Elite Playing Squad, and Freddie Burns and Jonny May strutting the European stage as to the manner born, few would have begrudged the Cherry and Whites their win.

Toulouse were clearly rattled, and the fact that they needed not only the world-class talent that started match – men like Wallaby scrum-half Luke Burgess and his All Black partner Luke McAllister – but also an obscenely talented replacements’ bench – Yannick Jauzion, William Servat and Lionel Beauxis had to produce special cameos to turn the tide – showed just how deep they had to dig.

But. The French club have turned the challenge of competing on two fronts into an art form. They are never far away from the top of French league while their record in Europe is unparalleled - in 16 years they have reached the semi-final nine times, the final six times and been crowned champions on a record four occasions – and they have a pronounced ability to score when it matters – as they had to on Sunday – and produce the result when it counts.

If that knack were the only thing that Gloucester brought back from France, coach Bryan Redpath would be a very happy man. He knows that his young team is still frustratingly erratic.

Already this season Gloucester have lost matches they should have won – a 17-19 defeat in the last home match against Saracens the most obvious example – and good results have too often been followed by poor ones.

Quite simply, Gloucester cannot afford to slip backwards this weekend when Harlequins are the Cup visitors. Although there are six matches in the Pool stages, few teams qualify after losing two of them, fewer still after losing their first two.

Quins are top of the Aviva Premiership and, although Connacht gave them a fright at the Stoop last weekend, they still have a 100 per cent record in all competitions.

What is more, they have already hammered Gloucester this season. Back in September they ran five tries past the Cherry and Whites in a 42-6 thrashing at the Stoop.

While Gloucester could argue that a lot of their stars were missing on World Cup duty that day, Quins could point out that they were similarly depleted. Equally, Gloucester could stress the Kingsholm factor – few teams down the years have relished their reception from the Shed – but they also know that, particularly of late, fortress Kingsholm has been stormed too frequently for comfort.

The bottom line is that last week’s exhilarating performance in the south of France will count for nothing unless they can build on it with a win this Saturday.

Do you agree with Alastair? Have your say below.

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