.jpg)
Gloucester's Phil Vickery gave an honest reaction to the Kingsholm club's 27-0 defeat to Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Commenting on www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com Vickery said: "There were lots of calls in the week for the supporters to get behind us on Sunday afternoon, but the fact is that the team performance was pi** poor!"
The 28 year-old prop added: "We're happy to talk it up and receive the accolades when it goes well, but that was the worst performance of the season, and people paid good money to support us this afternoon.
"The excuses are finished with now. We're not in the top three in the Zurich Premiership, we're out of the Heineken Cup, and the Powergen Cup now becomes vital."
The coaches were equally critical after the 27-0 defeat. Gloucester knew they had to win well against Stade Francais, but coach Dean Ryan was fuming after the team's first half showing.
"We didn't stick to the game plan and didn't respect field position in the first half, and that showed. Some people got carried away with trying to chase things when it was about creating pressure, establishing field position and being in touch at half-time.
"As a group we never said we'd chase the game early on, there was no need to, so early on, and from so deep. They scored three tries and the game was over.
"We know they're not robots out there, and we have to react to what's on the field at the time, but we've got to look at what went on and talk it through," said Ryan.
Director of rugby Nigel Melville said: "That was probably the worst first half of my coaching career. It's a team thing, that's everyone included in that. It was a shambles and it was humiliating, and there aren't any excuses.
"I was embarrassed by the first half, I have to admit that. It was unacceptable from our point of view.
"We threw it away in the first half, and we're going to have to look at the supporters in the eye after this one and earn back their respect."
Melville added: "The only way we can answer that performance is out on the field next week against Bristol back at Kingsholm.
"We've lost a lot of respect from the supporters after this result, and the only way to get it back is to earn it back, and that starts with hard work this week."
 |
 |
