Gloucester coach Ryan delighted by Spencer's debut

Head coach Dean Ryan and captain Olivier Azam heaped praise on new boy Carlos Spencer after the All Black helped Gloucester defeat Sale 24-17 at Kingsholm.

Spencer, who won 35 caps for New Zealand, made his debut on Saturday after signing a 17-month contract earlier this month.

He displayed a range of passing, kicking and quick thinking that helped inject a sense of much-needed urgency into the Gloucester backline.

The win saw Gloucester open a four-point gap at the top after London Irish crashed 14-9 to Harlequins, but Bath kept up the pressure with a bonus-point win over Worcester.

Ryan said: "He looked sharp – he had looked sharp all week, I wouldn't have picked him otherwise. He has come in deliberately just to change the dynamics and he has done that.

"At the same time, he has lifted people, which fits quite neatly into what we are trying to do.

"I have been delighted with him. He has a good understanding of the game.

"He is a quality international and he fits in well with how we want to play the game. I hope he is enjoying it as much as we are.

"He had a solid platform through the work of players like Gareth Delve, Will James and Olivier Azam, and that platform allows others to sparkle.

"We have just beaten two leading contenders against us and we deserve credit for that.

"There are elements that we will talk about on Monday and things he could have done better, but we will also show the seven or eight things that he brings to us.

Azam, who had a fine game as captain, added: "Everybody knows Carlos Spencer – he is a brilliant player.

"You could see today that he has come to Gloucester with a lot of hunger and I think he wants to prove to everybody that he has still got it.

"I think he is going to fit very well into the team."