Gloucester were missing 10 first-choice players against London Irish (Getty)

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan has praised his patched-up side for answering their critics with a 34-14 win over in-form London Irish.

"There's been some rumours that the forward pack doesn't operate well," Ryan told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"When people start talking about you like that you need to do your talking out there [on the pitch] and I thought we did a good job."

The bonus-point win put Gloucester four points clear at the top of the table.