Unhappy Gilmore: Harlequins coach under the cosh ahead of Stormers clash
SPOTLIGHT: Officials of Harlequins, one of English rugby’s oldest and most celebrated clubs, have taken the unusual step of issuing a statement about the team’s woeful recent performances under their Australian coach Jason Gilmore.
The club hierarchy warned on Sunday that results must improve after their 10-try thrashing in the English Prem league at Northampton 24 hours earlier had condemned the side to a seventh defeat in eight matches.
Head coach Gilmore had sighed after the 21-66 defeat at Franklin’s Gardens: “If you keep copping those defeats, it’s not going to be sustainable. That’s pretty obvious.
“It’s not just going to turn around overnight, and we’ve got to be as clear as a club over what we need to do to make sure we’re winning big games more consistently.”
Harlequins will now face the Stormers in their Round Three Champions Cup match at Twickenham Stoop.
On Sunday, a club statement was issued, saying: “Performances and results in the men’s team are not at the level we expect at Harlequins and are not considered acceptable by anyone within the club.
“Everyone is working tirelessly and urgently to address this, and to deliver the necessary on-pitch improvements.
“Whilst some elements of change will take a relatively short period of time to implement, others will take longer. It is critical that such change is carefully considered and will evidently deliver the performance levels we are committed to.”
Gilmore, who’s had spells as coach of Australia’s Under-20s and Australia ‘A’ teams as well as being an interim head coach at the Waratahs, said on Saturday there was “no magic formula” to help restore the team’s lustre as they lie eighth among the league’s 10 teams with only two wins from nine matches.
He had become head coach at the start of the season, taking over from Danny Wilson, but the results of a team which finished a disappointing seventh last season have failed to improve.
Asked about the frustrations of the Quins fans, Gilmore admitted: “I can definitely sympathise. We’re fighting it seven days a week.”
Meanwhile, Geoff Parling, Leicester’s Director of Rugby, is having a happier time in the English game since leaving his post as Wallabies’ assistant coach, with his side firmly in contention for a play-off place after an impressive 36-28 win over Saracens on Sunday.
