Head Coach Jonathan Thomas spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park (kick-off 3.00pm).
Here’s what Jonathan had to say:
On the Gloucester performance
- We were hugely disappointed with the way we performed at the weekend.
- Sometimes you need reference points in life and in teams where you learn from a particular experience. There are always positive reference points to boost your confidence but Saturday was a negative reference point.
- The feedback I gave the players is that in a local derby we cannot leave anything out on the field. We cannot allow that to happen again.
- Gloucester were absolutely determined to win that game after starting the season with two defeats. They won the 50-50s and they won the game.
- We have challenged the players since Saturday but we are going in a positive direction as a team and as a group. There are always going to be bumps in the road.
On Ted Hill’s three match suspension
- He had a very fair hearing and we don’t have any issue at all with the process that we went through. The panel had to work with the framework set by World Rugby.
- But we believe that World Rugby need to look at the framework that is in place for tip tackles.
- With high tackles you can look at degrees of seriousness to mitigate the offence. With tip tackles there is not that flexibility.
- Disciplinary panels have no discretion. They have to start at a mid-range entry point for sanction for this offence which means that , even allowing for maximum of discount of 50 per cent for matters like previous good record, admission of guilt etc, the minimum suspension is still three weeks.
- Ted did nothing wrong at any point. He followed up the kick-chase, he controlled himself and he was in a balanced position to tackle the Gloucester player around the midriff. At the point that Ted wanted to make the tackle, the opponent’s leg was raised and kicked Ted in the neck.
- Ted was disorientated and so the first thing that he went to grab was that leg. If the leg had not been there the tackle would have been around the ribs or midriff.
- The Gloucester player was not taken out in the air because he had one foot on the ground and, we would argue, he was not off balance.
- We are going to lose our Club Captain for three weeks. We believe the framework for this offence needs to be looked at by World Rugby and we will make representations through the appropriate channels.
On facing Exeter
- We have trained well this week. It’s a huge challenge against a great team and we have to go there with the right mindset.
- Exeter had a good win at Sale at the weekend and they will have their British and Irish Lions back this week.
Injuries
- Owen Williams faces a lengthy lay-off as he tore a hamstring against Gloucester. Fin Smith has been recalled from his loan spell with Ampthill, which he has really enjoyed, as a consequence.
- Melani Nanai also has a hamstring injury and he’s going to be out for a couple of weeks.
- Rory Sutherland, Duhan van der Merwe, Chris Ashton and Andrew Kitchener are all in the mix for this weekend and we will make a call on them on Thursday.