'I'll get players to give me feedback on how I've coached'
Paul Gustard refused to take comfort in Harlequins’ resurgence this season as a Gallagher Premiership semi-final against Exeter slipped from their grasp in dramatic circumstances.
Replacement fly-half James Lang narrowly missed a last-gasp penalty from just inside his own half as Wasps edged a thrilling 27-25 victory in the climax to the regular season at the Ricoh Arena.
Had Lang been accurate, Quins would have qualified for the playoffs at Northampton’s expense.
Gustard’s first season as head of rugby has delivered a marked improvement on last season when a 10th-place finish resulted in the removal of John Kingston.
But the former England defence coach insisted challenging for the title was his only goal as he said: “At the end I was anxious, nervous, excited. I didn’t know whether to look or not to look.
“Ultimately, I can be proud of the team because we made some big strides this year. But the over-riding emotion is disappointment because we were so close.
“Entering the game we knew we had to win and we were very confident but seven points from our last seven games in the league has been our downfall.
“We’re a group that works for each other, likes each other and respects each other. If we have that kind of attitude next season, this club will always be all right.”
Appraising his own performance, Gustard added: “I have to improve, I made too many mistakes, so I’ll critically reflect. I’ll get players to give me feedback on how I’ve coached.
“We’ll have a big internal review on Monday. We need to improve. I’m proud of the effort but we have to get better.
“My bar is not set at fifth and I’m gutted we won’t be in the semi-final next week because I want us to be there.”
Wasps had to survive two fightbacks from Quins to cling on to a win that was insufficient to clinch qualification for the Champions Cup through a top-six finish.
Victory at least gave the departing Joe Simpson, Elliot Daly, Nathan Hughes, Willie Le Roux and Jake Cooper-Woolley a triumphant farewell.
But Director of Rugby Dai Young feels uncertain times lie ahead.
“We’ve got to establish a new leadership group because a lot of our leaders have moved on,” Young said.
“We’ve got to start again pretty much. Squads at some point will break up. It’s natural. The squad I built four or five seasons ago is over now.
“We need to change. We need to be different next year because things haven’t worked as well as we’d have liked this year.
“There are lots of things we need to change and improve on. We know where we are. Everyone deserves a couple of weeks off to recharge the batteries.
“It’s probably been my most challenging season at Wasps. Black clouds have been here since October – the financial situation, training ground, employees leaving, results.
“The buck will stop with me, I understand that. This may be the kick in the guts this club needs.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments