Gloucester Rugby: Simplicity is the key for hooker Edmonds

KEEP the skills simple – not silky – and Gloucester will flourish, believes Huia Edmonds.

The Australian hooker has called on the Cherry and Whites to cut out the complicated approach play – and finish opponents off with straightforward but deadly attacking.

Three-cap Wallaby front-rower Edmonds admits there are a host of frustrations in the Gloucester camp after Saturday's circumspect 16-16 draw at Worcester.

The Cherry and Whites were ultimately fortunate to escape Sixways with two points – but Edmonds believes they should have ground out victory without issue.

Start doing the simple things well, asserted the former Brumbies forward, and Nigel Davies' men will reap the winning rewards they so crave.

Impressed by the potential and talent at Kingsholm, Edmonds said Gloucester will struggle to fulfil that if they keep trying to force the issue.

He explained: "The game's quite straightforward.

"The world-dominant teams do just play straightforward rugby, they keep it simple and the points come for them.

"It's just doing the simple things right, we don't need to be flashy.

"You see teams that win these days, they're not flashy but they're doing the right things.

"That's what we've got to learn to do, we've just got to compose ourselves a little bit more and just do the simple things right.

"And if we do that right the points will come.

"There's so much talent in the squad, I was so excited to come over and play with guys that I've been watching from home.

"We've got so much potential, but at the moment we're only halfway there.

"We need to refocus, go through our game and just hit our straps.

"We've had a little bit of everything performance-wise so far.

"In the first half we had all the ball, but coming into the second quarter and we just didn't capitalise on it.

"It's similar to the first game, and we need to make it count when we are in their half.

"That's a big learning step that we need to take into all games.

"If we're in their half we need to score points."

Gloucester take on Wasps at Kingsholm on Saturday (kick-off 3.15pm), keen to hit back to winning ways at home at the first opportunity.

Edmonds said Gloucester are focused on atoning for their opening-day 24-19 Northampton defeat as much as Saturday's lacklustre Worcester draw.

Henry Trinder's second-half try against the Warriors should have been enough to see Gloucester home, but Worcester hit back through James Currie.

Freddie Burns snatched a draw with a penalty that proved the final kick of the game, and Edmonds admits Gloucester are still below par so far this season.

He continued: "It is frustrating, we went there for a win.

"Two points is below par in my book, we wanted a win next to our names at Worcester.

"After that try we should have really been looking to put the nail in the coffin, unfortunately we didn't and they came back and scored a good try.

"I wasn't on the field at the time, but we should have closed it out.

"Now we're back at home this week and we really need to move on and get that first win.

"Wasps showed at the weekend that they are ready to take on any side and produce results, so we're in for another battle.

"Every game is a battle, though, and that's another thing we've got to get a handle on.

"If you give teams chances to come back into games, they will tend to take them.

"But if we can tighten up and add more control to our approach, then we won't allow opponents to force their way back into games."