Cup run can be a catalyst - Gloucester captain Narraway
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Gloucester captain Luke Narraway says a cup run could help the side improve their form in all competitions.
Bryan Redpath's side sit sixth in the Premiership table having won three of their six games so far.
They start their defence of their LV= Cup title at home to Sale on Saturday.
"Cup runs are a catalyst," he told BBC Gloucestershire. "This year, having some good form at home and some indifferent form away we'll be looking to the cup to solidify that."
He continued: "We need to make sure, moving forward, we have a more consistent form.
"It's exactly what happened last year - we were struggling for a bit of form, we changed it up and the young guys came in, gave us that bit of enthusiasm and we were able to kick-start our year.
"We went on from there to go on a great run and it made a difference to our season."
Gloucester welcome back Scott Lawson, Jim Hamilton, Alasdair Strokosch and Rory Lawson from World Cup duty but Redpath has opted to name all four as replacements, while Dan Murphy and Matias Cortese will make their debuts for the club.
And Narraway believes that making changes to the squad will have a positive effect on the players.
"There's a lot of enthusiasm going into it," he added. "Generally there's a few changes in the side from the Premiership. There's always a few lads chomping at the bit to get some game time.
"The youngsters have come in and played superbly and now everyone is talking about integration of the World Cup stars coming back in and earning their stripes again so it's going to be interesting.
"They've let no-one down and if anything they've got the shirt now so it's going to be up to the internationals to play well to get the shirt back.
"I'm looking forward to those guys, who were potentially first choice last year, coming back in and scrapping it out with the guys who have started those six games."
