Nearly men eyeing play-offs

JAMES Simpson-Daniel is determined to help Gloucester cast off their nearly-men tag and finally savour Guinness Premiership title glory.

Gloucester are a win away from reaching a third Premiership final in six seasons after Simpson-Daniel’s scorching try secured an 8-6 victory over Bath.

While Bath now head to play-off opponents Wasps next Sunday, Gloucester have a chance to avenge last year’s tortuous Twickenham experience against champions Leicester at Kingsholm.

Simpson-Daniel and company were mauled 44-16 by the Tigers, four years after their previous final appearance produced a 39-3 drubbing at the hands of Wasps.

Simpson-Daniel said: “It’s great to win the regular season, but you don’t get anything for it.

“To prove you are the best side you have to go and win the play-offs. We’ve got to make sure we kick on.”

Gloucester and Bath had already secured their play-off places before the final round of league action — but Leicester could hardly have left it any later.

Wing Tom Varndell’s injury-time try saw Leicester edge out Welford Road visitors Harlequins 31-28, and a winning bonus point edged them into fourth spot above Sale, who crashed 17-7 at home to London Irish.

Sale’s consolation was qualification for next season’s Heineken Cup, where they will be joined by fellow English representatives Gloucester, Wasps, Bath, Leicester and either Quins or Worcester.

Quins, who finished sixth, will claim the last available place, but only if Bath beat Worcester in the European Challenge Cup final.

Under-pressure Tigers head coach Marcelo Loffreda admitted: “My job would have been in question if we hadn’t made Europe.

“It has been a very difficult week with all that has been going on with the rumours and press talk.

“(Leicester chief) Peter Wheeler’s public support has been very important to me, and I told him how much I appreciate it.”

Varndell collected two of Leicester’s five tries yet Quins pushed them to the limit following touchdowns for Tom Williams (2), Will Skinner and Mike Brown.

Despite Varndell’s heroics, Sale would still have claimed fourth had they managed a losing bonus point against Irish.

Wasps leapfrogged Bath into second after three Tom Voyce tries underpinned a 45-28 victory over relegated Leeds Carnegie.

England World Cup winner Richard Hill reflected on a “very special 15 years” as he ended his illustrious career after Saracens’ last-gasp 25-20 victory over Bristol in Milton Keynes.

Hill, who had to wait until the last minute before wing Kameli Ratuvou’s try secured victory, said: “It has been a very special 15 years, but it isn’t about me, it’s about the team.”

Worcester, meanwhile, climbed above Newcastle into 10th place after crushing the Falcons 51-10.