Rugby Union: Zurich Premiership: Leicester 28 - 13 Gloucester

The grind of professional rugby is taking a fearful toll. Barely a quarter of the season has gone and even the big clubs are digging deep into the player bank.

By the time Andy Robinson has taken his pick of those still standing, the training grounds at Oval Park, Leicester, and Hartpury, just outside Gloucester, will be pretty empty.

When Andy Gomarsall pulled out with a back spasm 30 minutes before the kick-off here Gloucester's director of rugby Nigel Melville was left with a half-back pairing neither of whom had started a game this season. Leicester had nine regular first-XV choices sitting in the stand.

"The problem we've got," said John Wells, the Leicester head coach, "is that we are having to play injured players and some of those are breaking down."

Wells still has Martin Johnson and in the bruising battle up front he was head and shoulders the best forward on the field. Tactically he called every shot and, when it was time for the kill, the former England captain administered the blow.

Gloucester were under the cosh all afternoon. Smothered by the pressure of a Leicester pack backed up by Andy Goode's kicking, they toiled to keep the interval lead to 10-3 - Seru Rabeni having run 50 yards to score his eighth try in nine games.

In the 56th minute, blood streaking his face, Johnson nicked a lineout before appearing in midfield. The defence was offered the hint of a dummy before he pressed the accelerator and chugged on to create the room for a precision pass to Alesana Tuilagi who ran in unopposed. The Samoan picked up a second try, intercepting a forced pass from Marcel Garvey in the 80th minute, but by then the 10 stitches had torn open in Johnson's head wound and he was on the point of leaving the field for good.

The five England men played by Leicester survived almost intact as did Henry Paul, who scored all Gloucester's points, kicking two penalties and converting his own try in injury-time. Andy Hazell limped off after 54 minutes with an injured leg, but he is expected to be fit enough to start from the bench against Canada.

Leicester: Vesty; Hipkiss (A Tuilagi, 53), Rabeni, Gibson, Varndell; Goode, Bemand; Morris (Rowntree, 61), Buckland (Cockerill, 78), White; Johnson (capt; Moody, 80), Kay; H Tuilagi (Deacon, 65), Moody (Back, 71), Corry.

Tries: Rabeni, A Tuilagi 2. Cons: Goode 2. Pens: Goode 3.

Gloucester: Goodridge; Garvey, Fanolua (Mauger,71), Paul, Bailey; Davies, Page; Bezuidenhout, Fortey, Vickery (Powell, 79); Eustace, Cornwell (Balding, 58); Buxton, Hazell (Forrester, 54), Boer (capt).

Try: Paul. Con: Paul. Pens: Paul 2.

Referee: T Spreadbury (Somerset).

Attendance: 16,850.