By TOM BRADSHAW

Eyes open: Gloucester lock Ed Slater

ED SLATER has hailed Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann as a kindred spirit who has helped him rediscover a level of professionalism that had been ebbing away.
Slater moved from Leicester to Gloucester just before the start of last season as part of a swap deal with Jonny May.
And the lock forward says he is like a rugby player reborn, seeing the game afresh thanks to the South African’s guidance.
While admitting aspects of the move had been “messy”, Slater says the mentoring by Ackermann – who also played se...