Danny Cipriani delivered an impressive display in front of England boss Eddie Jones as Gloucester launched their Gallagher Premiership campaign with a 27-16 victory over Northampton Saints.
The Gloucester and England fly-half brilliantly created a first half try for wing Charlie Sharples and was at the heart of his team's attacking intent on his first Premiership appearance since leaving Wasps.
Hooker James Hanson also touched down and centre Billy Twelvetrees kicked 17 points to see off a Northampton side boosted by England captain Dylan Hartley's Premiership return following his concussion issues of last season.
Saints posted tries for centre Piers Francis and lock Courtney Lawes, with Dan Biggar booting two penalties on a sometimes inconsistent Premiership bow.
But Hartley and company could only stand and admire Cipriani's audacity as he performed with the consistency that underpinned a Test match return against South Africa just over two months ago.
Cipriani lined up 10 days after an independent disciplinary panel upheld a Rugby Football Union charge of "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game" against him.
That hearing followed his conviction last month for common assault and resisting arrest in Jersey, but if Jones required a reminder of Cipriani's rugby ability, he will have left the west country with a spring in his step.
Jones and England forwards coach Steve Borthwick looked on as Cipriani swung the game into action, with Gloucester taking a second-minute lead through a Twelvetrees penalty.
Cipriani was heavily involved from the start, bringing his fellow backs into action, and Gloucester increased their lead by kicking a penalty to touch, driving the close-range lineout and Hanson touching down under a pile of bodies.
Biggar then sent the restart straight into touch, but Saints responded well following a nervy start, and after Biggar and Twelvetrees exchanged penalties, they breached Gloucester's defence.
Hooker James Fish made initial headway, causing sufficient disruption in Gloucester's defence, and despite a poor pass from Francis to full-back Ahsee Tuala he gathered possession and found Francis with a superb off-load, with the England squad member touching down.
Gloucester saw skipper Ed Slater sin-binned for a high challenge on his Northampton counterpart Alex Waller, but Biggar drew Northampton level through another penalty before Twelvetrees completed his penalty hat-trick and restored a three-point lead.
Hartley made an initial 11-minute appearance while Fish went off for a head injury assessment, then featured for most of the second period, and he spearheaded Saints' close-quarter work before Cipriani struck with a moment of magic.
Gloucester established a spell inside Northampton's 22 as half time loomed, and Cipriani fired out a majestic floated 20-metre pass that left three Saints defenders flat-footed and gave Sharples an easy finish.
Twelvetrees' conversion took Gloucester 10 points clear, which was a fair reflection of an opening 40 minutes when their pack had ascendancy and Cipriani provided a genial try-scoring assist.
A scrappy third quarter ended scoreless, before a fourth successful Twelvetrees penalty increased Gloucester's degree of breathing space, opening up a 24-11 advantage with 17 minutes left.
Just when it began to look comfortable for them, Saints hit back when Lawes scored following a driven lineout, but a fifth Twelvetrees penalty finished Saints off.
Teams
Gloucester: Woodward, Sharples, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Banahan, Cipriani, Braley, Rapava Ruskin, Hanson, Balmain, Slater, Galarza, Ackermann, Ludlow, Morgan.
Replacements: Marais, Hohneck, Knight, Clarke, Polledri, Vellacott, Hudson, Williams.
Northampton: Tuala, Tuitavake, Burrell, Francis, Collins, Biggar, Reinach, Waller, Fish, Franks, Ribbans, Lawes, Haskell, Brussow, Harrison.
Replacements: Hartley, Van Wyk, Painter, Ratuniyarawa, Ludlam, Mitchell, Grayson, Pisi.
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
PA
