Revenge? A place in the final is what we really want, says Sinbad

Almost 12 months on and Gloucester face Leicester again today, having once more ended the regular season as the best team in England, although this time they are in a semi-final play-off at Kingsholm. Surely a perfect opportunity for revenge?

Score to settle: James Simpson-Daniel

"I can't see it that way, I'm afraid," said the 25-year-old known as 'Sinbad', whose nose for the try-line remains as good as anyone's in British rugby.

"Even if we were to thrash Leicester, it wouldn't remove the pain from last year's humiliation at Twickenham. They annihilated us. It was a horrible experience. I was absolutely devastated. So it's not about revenge, it's just about making it to another final."

There is no doubt that losing in such a manner is not pleasant but Gloucester had already experienced a similar fate in 2003 when they won the league by a country mile, then sat out for two weeks while Wasps qualified for the final. They were then beaten as soundly by the battle-hardened Londoners as they were last year by the Tigers.

"But last year was a lot worse," said Simpson-Daniel. "We believed we had the team to win some silverware, we were hardened by that defeat in 2003, and we had proved that we were the best team in the country for nine months. But the thing that really got to me was that we just didn't show up at Twickenham at all. Leicester were good that day, but we did nothing to stop them. I'll never forget that."

Even though the end-of-season playoff system is now well-entrenched in the game, Simpson-Daniel remains vehemently opposed to it. Clubs such as Wasps and Leicester, who lose so many players to international commitments, get the chance to win the league after being hindered more than most — but the winger will not be turned. 'People say that Gloucester may be a good side and may have great players, but the bottom line is that we haven't won any silverware.

"Ultimately, success has to be judged by trophies. But I'd like to point out that under the old system we would have three league championship trophies in a club cabinet in the past six years, and that's not a bad return, is it?

"I believe at the very least the winners of the league should get a trophy, even if the play-offs decide the eventual champions."

For now, however, he and his illustrious team-mates will have to do with a few pats on the back. Simpson-Daniel knows he stands 160 minutes away from putting his hands on that coveted Premiership trophy, but before he can contemplate another Twickenham final, Gloucester first have to see off the defending champions.

They are the only team to have won at Kingsholm in the league and because their inclusion in the play-offs — courtesy of a fourth place claimed in the dying minutes last week — was not far short of a miracle, they can seize the day.

Meanwhile, Simpson-Daniel's England career still stutters. Injuries and strange selections have meant one of the country's most potent attacking backs has only won 10 caps, and a worsening shoulder injury means he will not be available for the New Zealand tour next month. Still, a phone call has left him full of hope.

He said: "The shoulder has to be sorted in the summer and then I'll be back to my very best after a good preseason but if the senior and Saxons wingers perform well, I'll be down the list a bit. That said, Martin Johnson phoned me to say I was on their radar, and that he agreed with the decision to repair my shoulder. Johnno's shrewd enough to understand how much that kind of feedback means to a player."

The England manager will watch with interest to see if Simpson-Daniel repays his interest by destroying his old club, Leicester, this afternoon.