Gloucester top Prem as Deacon demands toughness

Gloucester are top of the Prem after two rounds, and they have done it in style.

The Cherry & Whites opened the season with a 45-24 win away at Exeter, then hammered Harlequins 48-0 at home. That leaves them on 10 points from two games at the head of England's top flight, according to BBC Sport.

It is quite a change. Gloucester finished eighth last season. Now they are setting the early pace.

Forwards coach Brett Deacon says the shift was deliberate. The 44-year-old told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he endeavoured to make Gloucester "tougher" and "harder" after joining in April from Leicester Tigers.

Deacon runs the pack. That is the eight forwards who power the scrum, the shoving contest used to restart play, and the lineout, the jumping contest when the ball is thrown back in, as well as the ruck, the battle for the ball on the ground after a tackle. A former Gloucester player, he returned to Kingsholm to take the role.

He credited simplicity for the fast start. Fewer complicated calls. Focus on fundamentals. Win your set-piece, carry strongly and defend with edge.

Summer recruitment has given him new tools. Wales flanker Jac Morgan has arrived, along with fellow Welshman Dewi Lake at hooker, the front-rower in the middle who throws into the lineout. Lake is the side's new captain. World Cup-winning Springbok Jean Kleyn, a South African lock, adds proven bulk in the second row.

For fans, this means the numbers are eye-catching at both ends. Gloucester have scored 93 points in two matches. They conceded none against Quins.

The next test is personal for Deacon. Gloucester face Leicester Tigers on Friday in the Slater Cup, with their coach coming up against his old club of close to ten years.