Return of Simpson-Daniel boost for Gloucester
Simpson-Daniel was struck down by glandular fever midway through England’s autumn Test programme after winning his first two caps against New Zealand and Australia.
He hasn’t played since England beat the world champion Wallabies on November 16, an unforgettable occasion when Simpson-Daniel created the winning try for his fellow wing Ben Cohen.
But the 20-year-old expects to play some part during Gloucester’s clash against Pool Two strugglers Viadana at Kingsholm, ahead of next week’s potential group decider with Munster in Limerick.
“We have monitored James closely through his illness, but really there has been nothing we could do,” said Gloucester rugby director Nigel Melville. “He couldn’t do anything at all until his blood counts were right. He then had to have an ultra-sound on his spleen.
“Maybe it has not been as bad a dose as it could have been, although he was pretty poorly for a while, but he has bounced back really well.
“He started full training two weeks ago, and has been doing contact work this week. He has come through with flying colours,” added Melville. Gloucester could be excused for having one eye on events in Perpignan today.
Munster must win to realistically keep their quarter-final hopes alive, while a Perpignan victory would put them firmly in the last-eight picture. The qualifying race is similarly congested in Pool Six, where Northampton, Biarritz and Ulster are all looking to progress.
Northampton, minus injured flankers Budge Pountney and Andrew Blowers, but boosted by the return of England pair Cohen and Matt Dawson, face Biarritz today.
Victory over the French champions, and a win against Ulster in Belfast next Friday night, would secure Saints’ passage. Ulster travel to Cardiff today, where they will encounter a Blue and Blacks side whose season is effectively over following their elimination from both the Heineken Cup and Celtic League competitions.
Heineken Cup holders Leicester will secure quarter-final status from Pool One if they beat Calvisano in a snowy northern Italy. A Leicester defeat would represent the biggest shock in Heineken Cup history, but Neath and Beziers, who meet at The Gnoll today, would see their hopes revived following such an upset.
Highly-fancied French challengers Toulouse need only beat injury-hit Newport at home to wrap up Pool Five, while Bristol Shoguns’ fading Pool Four hopes will be extinguished if they don’t beat Montferrand in France tomorrow.
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