IT HAS been a week of new beginnings in several different ways down at the Rec.

Firstly for the players, the challenge was to put the disappointment of the defeat at Loftus Road behind us.

As soon as we knew the game was gone against Wasps last weekend, we were back in the changing rooms and looking ahead to this weekend's big challenge against Gloucester.

Right from Monday onwards, the big issue for us has been recovering mentally and physically from that match.

Mentally, we've been really upbeat. The confidence is going to come by winning games and by carving out wins and we have been setting ourselves up accordingly.

Our record against sides at the top has been good this season. London Irish, Sale and Newcastle have all been beaten and we are putting these games together.

At the moment we're more in credit with games won at home and that's something we want to do, not only for ourselves, but for the fans to keep them behind us.

On the physical side of things, iced baths are the thing apparently.

They are the latest idea to help the body recover and get the blood running through the muscles to make sure you hit the ground running on Saturday.

To be honest, it just means I get really cold! But I am reliably told that it is the way forward!

Another new start has been made this week by Michael Foley, our new assistant coach to JC.

Michael has eased his way in this week, but the first thing you notice about him when you meet is that he's a winner.

He has a proven track record and that attitude was evident at our first meeting with him.

Whenever a fresh view or voice comes in it raises the enthusiasm and tempo of training and that's been plain to see in training this week.

There will be no radical change in the framework we are following, just a bit of tweaking and tightening up of what we are trying to do and that's certainly something that Michael has brought in.

Nobody needs any reminding what a big game Bath versus Gloucester is.

There's a massive history between the two sides and this is a crucial league game which adds a bit of extra spice to an occasion for which I am sure there will be a fantastic atmosphere at the Rec.

However, every game is a huge challenge for us at the moment so this one will be no different.

Gloucester are going very well at the moment at second in the league and their forwards have been outstanding this season.

With Leicester, you would have to say they are the best pack in the Premiership and their front row, with the likes of Olivier Azam and tighthead Federico Pucciarello, have been especially good.

They have had some big wins including two heavy victories in the last two matches and dominate sides so we will need to get out there and meet them early.

In fact, it's a busy few days coming up for the Mallett family.

My brother Ed is playing in the Varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge next Tuesday.

He'll be in the second row for Cambridge, where he is reading law. So he must have had the brains in the family!

Anyway, I'm hoping that I might get a gap between training to go up and watch and cheer him on at Twickenham.