Sometimes, the best strategy is the simplest one—and for Gloucester Rugby, that mindset is finally paying off. After a challenging season, forward Freddie Thomas revealed that the team has stripped back their gameplan, focusing on what they do best: playing with physicality and confidence.

That approach was on full display in their recent 34-31 victory over Exeter Chiefs at the end of April. It was only their third Premiership win of the season, but it felt like a turning point for a squad that has struggled to find consistency. Currently sitting in eighth place, Gloucester has endured a season to forget, but with four games left, they're determined to finish strong.

"We've done well the last couple of weeks refining our gameplan and making it super simple," Thomas told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "Boys can go out there and do what they do best—being physical and being confident. It showed last week."

The lock forward explained that overthinking was holding the team back earlier in the campaign. "As a player, the more you have to think about, the less you're thinking about the rugby and being in the moment. We've done quite well to refine it down and let boys just focus on playing rugby."

It's been a tough road for Gloucester, who lost nine of their first ten games, effectively ending their playoff hopes before the season truly began. Thomas admits the change could have come sooner, but he's quick to point out that hindsight makes everything clearer. "Potentially we should have made the change earlier, but the gameplan at the start was what we thought was the right thing to do."

Next up, Gloucester hosts Sale Sharks on Friday (19:45 BST)—a team that has also struggled this season, sitting just six points ahead in seventh place and out of playoff contention. Despite the lack of silverware to chase, Thomas insists there's no danger of the squad "throwing in the towel."

"Skivs [head coach George Skivington] has been very vocal about how there are things to play for," Thomas said. "He doesn't like that narrative of 'We're not in the top four, there's nothing to play for, we're not going at it'—because that's just not true."

For a team rediscovering its identity through simplicity, the final stretch of the season is about more than just results—it's about building momentum, restoring pride, and proving that sometimes, less really is more.