Danny Cipriani gained plenty of accolades and plaudits after an outstanding first season at Gloucester - but he was far from the best performer at the club judging by the results of Gloucestershire Live’s player rater.
After every game during the 2018-19 campaign, fans were able to mark each player out of 10 on our website.
We have added up all the marks to work out the average rating for every member the squad who has played a first team game and number eight Ben Morgan has emerged on top with an impressive score of 7.6.
Cipriani was crowned Premiership Player of the Season, RPA Player of the Year and was voted Gloucester’s Supporters’ Player of the Year but incredibly eight of his team-mates, one of which has since left the club, came above him in this list.
Take a look at the results below:
Ben Morgan 7.60
Gloucester’s Players’ Player of the Season consistently gained high marks throughout the season and was often the highest rated player after looking back to his best.
Ollie Thorley 7.46
Gloucester’s Young Player of the Season gained the highest mark of the campaign with 9.5 when he scored two outstanding tries, including the Premiership Try of the Season, at home to Leicester.
Jake Polledri 7.41
Despite often having to settle for a place on the bench, Polledri regularly impressed fans with a top score of 9.1 against Bristol.
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Ruan Ackermann 7.28
An impressive try-scoring rate of six in 15 games.
Franco Mostert 7.2
An impressive 10 lineout steals in just 14 Premiership appearances – the South African’s top mark was nine in the win away over Harlequins.
Tom Marshall 7.13
Injury restricted Marshall to nine appearances but he has looked sharp when he did start, scoring two tries.
Jaco Kriel 7.08
After an injury-disrupted start, South African back rower made his mark in first season at Gloucester.
Mariano Galarza 7.05
Only played the first two games against Northampton and Bath before joining Bordeaux.
Danny Cipriani 7.04
Had eight scores of eight or higher but a few low scores, including a 5.3 after his red card in Munster, brought down his average. Claimed an incredible 16 try assists in all competitions.
Fraser Balmain 7.03
Consistent performer who was a regular starter with 27 appearances in all competitions.
Billy Twelvetrees 6.98
Racked up 28 appearances and scored 182 points in all competitions.
Val Rapava Ruskin 6.9
Rapava Ruskin only made five starts after injury troubles but always made an impact.
Ed Slater 6.87
His 80 lineout wins after 22 Premiership rounds was only bettered by Newcastle’s Calum Green with 84.
James Hanson 6.86
A couple of bad injuries restricted the hooker to 13 appearances, scoring two tries.
Gerbrandt Grobler 6.84
Quickly gained popularity with the Gloucester fans despite being unable to nail down a regular starting spot.
Willi Heinz 6.77
Gloucester club captain scored four tries in 17 appearances.
Franco Marais 6.76
A consistent performer in his first season in England.
Josh Hohneck 6.74
A reliable performer who put in some great shifts, playing in every Premiership and European game bar one.
Tom Savage 6.66
One of Gloucester’s most consistent performers over the last eight years, Savage never let the side down despite no longer being first choice.
Mark Atkinson 6.63
A highest score of 8.8 away to Northampton, where three of his four tries during the season came.
Freddie Clarke 6.62
A big season of growth for the back rower, who made 27 appearances in all competitions.
Ben Vellacott 6.6
Five tries in 16 appearances, often struggling to get a place in the 23.
Lewis Ludlow 6.58
Scored three tries, gained 255 metres, made 137 tackles and won 10 turnovers in 19 appearances.
Charlie Sharples 6.53
Gloucester’s top try scorer with 10 in all competitions after a burst early in the season.
Jason Woodward 6.48
Made more metres than any other Gloucester player in the Premiership with 1,112 but did not hit heights of his first season at Gloucester.
Jaco Visagie 6.48
Only made six appearances in loan spell but proved popular with the fans.
Ruan Dreyer 6.4
Injury limited Dreyer to five appearances, all from the bench after summer move from the Lions.
Gareth Evans 6.35
Made 16 appearances – just one less than the previous three seasons put together – but was released before joining Ospreys.
Matt Banahan 6.32
Got better as his first season at Gloucester went on, his highest mark of 8.3 coming in the final game away to Sale.
Henry Purdy 6.28
Scored three tries in two games in March after long wait for chance in Premiership due to injuries and competition but released at the end of the season.
Owen Williams 6.21
Yet to convince some fans after making big-money move from Leicester two years ago but has looked more effective at 12 when he formed a good partnership with Cipriani.
Lloyd Evans 6.2
Showed signs of promise in his six appearances but hit by injuries.
Tom Hudson 6.16
Utility back made 20 appearances and was a regular in the squad before injury.
Mike Sherry 6.05
Made four appearances, all as a replacement, after joining on loan from Munster at the end of the season.
Paddy McAllister 5.93
Returned from injury to make eight appearances in final season at Gloucester.
Henry Trinder 5.88
A difficult season in which he struggled with an Achilles issue meant Gloucester fans did not see the best of Trinder.
Gareth Denman 5.88
Only made six appearances and not offered a new contract before deciding to join Coventry.
Callum Braley 5.85
Made more appearances (28) than any other season since he’s been at Gloucester but some performances came in for criticsm.
Kyle Traynor 5.66
Initially signed on short-term deal to cover an injury crisis in the front row but stayed until the end of the season, making six appearances before announcing his retirement.
Will Safe 5.4
His only appearance came in the heavy Premiership Cup defeat away to Bath after injury. Released at the end of the season.
Todd Gleave 5.28
Only made one start with four replacement appearances in first season at Gloucester but handed a new contract.
Academy players
Dom Coetzer 6.83
Made four appearances in all competitions, scoring on his Premiership debut on the final day against Sale, but is heading back to South Africa.
Alex Morgan 6.7
His only appearance came in the Premiership Cup win over Wasps.
Reece Dunn 6.6
Same as above.
Cameron Terry 6.4
Showed promise in three cup appearances but has now joined Ealing.
Jack Bartlett 6.3
Came off the bench in the cup win over Wasps.
Louis Rees-Zammit 6.2
Became Gloucester’s youngest Premiership player when he came off the bench against Bath – his second appearance for the club.
Olly Adkins 6.13
Unexpectedly made Premiership debut as an 18-year-old from the bench against Wasps, making three appearances in total.
Ciaran Knight 6.10
Would not have expected to make 23 appearances at the start of the season but Knight stepped up after injuries gave him a chance.
Alex Craig 6.06
His six appearances included an impressive debut – with a mark of 8.1 – against Wasps in the Premiership Cup.
Tom Seabrook 6
Collected two Premiership tries from two starts.
Aaron Hinkley 6
Promising young flanker made four appearances but there is more to come from Hinkley.
Harry Butler 6
His only appearance was as a replacement against Wasps in the cup.
Charlie Chapman 5.97
Four appeanaces, including a Heineken Cup debut, all coming from the bench.
Callum Allen 5.8
His only two appearances came in the Premiership Cup. Released at the end of the season.
Henry Walker 5.73
Another academy player who was regularly thrown in at the deep end, making 14 appearances.
Joe Mullis 5.65
Only made two cup appearances and has now left the club.
Alex Seville 5.55
Like Knight, Seville played more than he would have expected with 10 appearances and is one with a bright future.
Jack Reeves 5.33
All three appearances came from the bench in the cup.
Jacob Morris 5.1
His two appearances included a harrowing night against a full-strength Bath with Semesa Rokoduguni scoring four tries.
