Ryan praises his academy players

Ryan knows how frustrating it can be for those in the academy

Gloucester coach Dean Ryan believes his academy players can have an important role to play at Kingsholm this season.

Scrum-half Dave Lewis, 19, and back row Apo Satala, both academy players, featured in the 25-21 defeat of Saracens in the Premiership on Sunday.

Ryan told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "I thought David Lewis played really well as a young player. He looked the part out there.

"I thought he did himself a huge amount of credit," he added.

"It is very difficult for the academy lads because they sit around the edges for an awfully long time and then suddenly the spotlight comes on them for one go."

Ryan also praised the performance of Apo Satala in the first 18 minutes of the game.

"He came on and had some cameo 20 minutes but that was a full on 80-minute performance and he did himself a lot of good."

The coach said Gloucester was looking more like the team of old with players returning from injury.

"We looked more like the side we are used to seeing. We got energized by that.

"We want to get better. We want to enhance that product. I am 100% convinced we will do that."