Gloucester Rugby: Time for soul searching says try scorer Tim Taylor
TRY-scorer Tim Taylor says Gloucester's players need to do some heavy soul searching after losing to Exeter in their opening Aviva Premiership match, writes Will Wood .
The Cherry and Whites surprised everyone by failing to execute their attacking play, which culminated in a number of errors including forward passes and knock-ons.
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Try scorer: Tim Taylor
But Taylor, who replaced the injured Olly Morgan at full-back in the first half and scored a try late on, says they have a lot of work to do.
"Everyone has to take a good, long, hard look at themselves and see where they went wrong," said the former Nottingham player.
"They need to see what they can do to make it right and the boys will work hard and we will get ourselves up for next week.
"Exeter held onto the ball well and just played the phases and got the breaks and we did not play well enough as a team.
"There were too many individual errors, too many dropped balls, there were too many knock-ons and too many forward passes, so there is a lot to work on before next week."
Bryan Redpath's men outscored the league's new boys by two tries to one but lost out in the kicking battle.
Chiefs stand-off Gareth Steenson landed four penalties, a drop goal and a conversion in a near-faultless display with the boot, while Taylor's team-mate and Welsh international Nicky Robinson failed to bisect the posts with three penalties and two conversions which proved costly in the end.
As well as Taylor's score in the second half, winger James Simpson-Daniel also went over in the corner in the first period.
And Taylor said the squad has to perform a lot better this weekend in their first home game against Leeds Carnegie.
"That is what is so frustrating, because when we kept the ball and got the phases going the gaps opened up and it was well worked from the inside and well finished from the outside," added Taylor.
"At half-time we were told just to try and take control of the game, because 40 minutes is a long time, and just to go out there play the territory and keep hold of the ball really and get some phases going.
"We've got the squad and we've got the players – we've just got to go out and do it now.
"We had the right tactics, it was just the execution that let us down."
3 Comments
by Danny, Gloucester
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 4:21PM
“I remember those days... I just don't remember the silverware laden trophy cabinet that we must have had to make people keep harking back.”
by Ed, Glos
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:06PM
“Despondent, your criticism is misplaced. Why ask for TW to have a big review when your complaint is with professional rugby and not Gloucester? The game turned professional 15 years ago and our great club would be languishing in the far lower leagues had we not embraced this change.
You clearly prefer the amatuer game which is why you are quite rightly supporting our other local sides, but top class rugby is professional so it is time to accept it and move on.”
by Despondent, Kingsholm
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:27AM
“Soul searching. I¿ve been doing a bit of that too.
I remember watching Mike Teague turn up in his transit van for training, eating apples I¿d scrogged from a local tree in Kingsholm.
Classic games against B@*£ and various welsh sides, pre professional era.
I got shot of the season ticket during Dean Ryan¿s time. Seemed a bit pointless paying all that money up front, and then watching others get bargains at the end of the season to put bums on seats.
Sadly, like football, all that matters now is money. Thankfully I didn¿t waste any going down to Exeter. I went up to Worcester last season when we beat a mediocre, already relegated team by a point. That could have been the same sort of embarrassment.
I honestly don¿t feel that any player cares enough. They will bank their pay cheque whatever; they have no investment in this city. I don¿t think anything will change until fans stop spending hard earned money, to keep these ¿gods¿ on the gravy train. Maybe then, Mr Walkinshaw will have a big old review.
Fortunately in this city we have many good grass roots clubs where you can still see a decent game of rugby and have a pint at a reasonable price. The players are there because they want to play for the team, and win, with a bit of pride, not because of a big fat cheque.
You can argue for hours whether it is down to the board, the coaches or the players. The one factor that doesn¿t change is the support. Sadly, for the moment at least, I will be investing my £40.00 at Coney Hill, Matson, Old Richians, Spartans Etc.
Please let¿s not get into the ¿Real¿ fan debate, ¿through thick and thin etc¿. I¿m just tired of the same old thing I guess.”