Martin Johnson (Getty Images)
Martin Johnson watched Gloucester gun down bitter rivals Bath to finish top of the Guinness Premiership table.
But the new England chief left a worried man - with three international stars injured after a tense, tight and bloody West Country rugby war.
Gloucester centre Mike Tindall (ankle) plus Bath prop Matt Stevens (knee) and hooker Lee Mears (shoulder) were crocked as another international hopeful James Simpson-Daniel scored the match-winning try.
All three should be named in Johnson's squad on Tuesday to fly to New Zealand next month for two Tests.
They have time to recover for that but must be doubtful for the play-offs.
Gloucester guaranteed a home play-off clash with Leicester Tigers, while Bath travel to Wasps next Sunday.
England full-back Iain Balshaw said: "Hopefully we can push on against Leicester and reach Twickenham."
While Bath coach Steve Meehan said: "It will be a tremendous challenge to win at Wasps. But these guys have tremendous character."
The scoreboard may look bleak but that was down to the sheer passion and ferocity behind the tackling from both defences.
Last-ditch tackles denied Tindall and Stevens yards from the try line in a pulsating first half.
Fly-half Ryan Lamb's boot sent the Cherries and Whites into the lead only for Olly Barkley to level. Then came the crunch moment as the lightning quick wing Simpson-Daniel sliced through a couple of tacklers from 22 yards to score a superb try.
Barkley's second penalty closed the gap to 8-6 by half-time. But that was where the scoring ended.
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Jonathan Pearce
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE