Jason Gilmore press conference | Saracens v Harlequins

Jason Gilmore sat down with members of the media to preview Saturday's Gallagher PREM match-up against Saracens.

The Head Coach discussed:

• Fire in the belly
• Building on improved performances
• Finishing the season strong
• Closing in on confirming coach appointments
• The energy of derby day

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

How have you managed this kind of fortnight between Exeter and now? Uh we we charged in a training last week. We probably just reduced the the load a little bit just to give the boys a little bit of time off to freshen up as well. But um we got two good trainings in last week and and four weeks of training this week. Cool.

SPEAKER_03 0:20

And I think since you've been at Queens uh been three league wins in a row against Saracens, do you find it uh uniquely easy to get the team in the right emotional pitch for these fixtures?

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Um yeah, well it's a big game, isn't it? Like I said, with it with the derby, it's um there's tradition in it, there's history, and and there's bragging rights around the game. So um being two big London clubs, um, it's going to attract a lot of interest, big fan support. So um they're definitely games that the boys like to play in.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

And that that win at home against Saracens at the start of the season, maybe September, October time, was that the kind of high watermark of of this season in terms of performance, would you say?

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Oh I'd say there'd be a few, like there'd be that one, La Rochelle away, um, it was a great day as well. And um obviously Exeter last week, um, they've been going really well in the Prem. So um to knock them over in uh in a really tough physical game and kind of run away with it at the back end of it, I'd probably say those three would be the standout.

SPEAKER_03 1:23

Yeah. And how how have you found the rivalry uh since you arrived at Queens? Like, how does it compare to other rivalries um that you've encountered in your career?

SPEAKER_01 1:33

No, that they'd be all the same. Like back home, obviously, the the Reds and the Waratars is kind of the longest running um traditional game. Um similar thing over here, obviously, two two big clubs. Uh, the difference would be these are two city clubs coming out of the same city. That that's probably what we don't get back home as much. But um, I would generally say that the difference over here is the travelling support and and the buzz around the game from both clubs, no matter whether you're playing home in a way. I I think there's such a special game to be a part of. And um obviously back at Stone X looks like they're they've sold it out as well, so it's going to be very parochial um for Saris, and and you would want it any other way.

SPEAKER_03 2:13

And just on on Stone X, like how hard is it to go there and win with that pitch, that supports, that team as well, has kind of a kind of reputation, a bit of exaura back uh over the last few few weeks, certainly.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Yeah, I I think any of the big clubs when you play away, whether it's Bathway or or Saints or anything like that, they're they're such um great atmospheres to be a part of. And um, you know, a lot of our young boys in Premier Cup went up to stay next in the last little block and got the win on full-time as well there. So um it's great that those boys could experience a game like that and and stay in the fight because we know it's gonna take 80 minutes as well. So um look, we're we're really looking forward to the fixture.

SPEAKER_03 2:57

And just finally for me, I know we had sort of Sam P confirms quite recently what James Dunn and George Furbank, but is there gonna be any more? Should we expect any more signing announcements forthcoming or anything in the works?

SPEAKER_01 3:09

Yeah, we're we're pretty tight on our cap at the moment. We're just saying what we can free up potentially to get another signing in. But um what we won't do is if we've got a little bit of money and we can't quite get the play that we're chasing, we're just not gonna spend it for spend sake, we'll we'll put that away and and make uh make a bigger investment the following season. Thanks a lot, just mate.

SPEAKER_04 3:34

Hi Jason Adam, how are you doing? Good yourself. Yeah, good thanks. I just wondered how the um once you've got the 6th of June and the and the final game of the season over, how does the next the month after that pan out for you in terms of what's going on at the club and things like that?

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Yeah, we're we're pretty close to um announcing our new staff group. Um and then once we've done that, like there's a lot of work in the background at the moment in terms of planning pre-season. Um, obviously, we'll have to have a really good look at our game model. Um, again, another cycle of recruitment. We want to make sure that we're 12 months ahead of the game and um you know, aligning every part of the club um to make sure that we can play as well as what we can. So that there will be a bit of downtime, like it's been a big year for all of our staff and all of our players, so we definitely need a break. But um, look, there's certainly a lot of work that needs to be done across the offseason. So when we come back in on July 13, that we're ready to go. And we'll Robbie be in on that July 13th. Yeah, he'll be here uh uh for the first three weeks of preseason, um, and then he'll be here for the last three weeks of preseason, which will encompass the two Premier Cup games of Got a Friendly Fixture as well. Thanks, mate.

SPEAKER_05 4:51

Hi Jason, how are you going, mate? You're right. Good now with yourself. Not too bad, mate. Not too bad, especially with it cooling down a bit. It's lovely, isn't it? But it must be like home away from home for you, isn't it? Beautiful, mate. Absolutely beautiful. Mate, can I ask about Finn Baxter? Yeah, uh where's he at at the moment?

SPEAKER_01 5:15

Yeah, he he had a bit of a hiccup a couple of weeks ago. Um so uh he's had to have a little bit more work done uh on his foot. Um he'll be out of the England tour. Um so he'll be back early in preseason um just to get himself ready, obviously, for us and then make a big run for that World Cup.

SPEAKER_05 5:39

What was the setback? I know that Chris Chunza down at Exeter had the similar type of problem that he kept on re-injuring. Yeah, it's kind of weak point in the foot, isn't it, once you do it once.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

Yeah, and and he had a bit of metal in there, he had a screw and that type of thing in his foot, and um it was probably just aggravating his his running mechanics and and that type of thing. I'm I'm not a doctor in terms of the ins and outs of it, but it obviously stirred up a a little bit of an issue there for it. So he's had that removed. And um, I spoke to him yesterday, he feels much better in it already. Um, but it'll just take a little bit of time to heal and then we'll start to load him up in the preseason.

SPEAKER_05 6:18

It's a little bit of a blow for him, wasn't it? Because you were quite confident that he would make either this game or the Northampton game, weren't you?

SPEAKER_01 6:27

Yeah, he was on track definitely to play Northampton. Um, but look, in terms of Finn's situation, like he was really redlining it to be ready for that, and then he also had the summer tour. Um I think it might be a blessing in disguise for him that um he doesn't have to get not that he's getting rushed back, but he doesn't have to feel the pressure of having to come back quickly and then play in a national rugby without having pulled a boot on for a long time. Um, you know, he can get his loadings, he can he can get some really good rugby development, physical development now in the preseason and really launching it next year because he's going to be so crucial for us and he's obviously a cornerstone of that England pack for the World Cup as well.

SPEAKER_05 7:06

Brilliant. Uh you say Robbie Deans is over. Have you spoken to him at all since his appointment? If so, what have you discussed and that kind of thing?

SPEAKER_01 7:16

Yeah, we we speak regularly. He um he spent a week over here early doors. Um, we'd be on the phone three or four times a week, um, and just about the big pillars of the program, um, recruitment, um, game model, um, how we're coaching, uh, who'll watch our trainings and obviously watch our games, and we'll catch up um off the back of those. So um, you know, staffing at the moment, we're also going through the recruitment of some key staff. So he he's been a part of that. So they would be the three big buckets at the moment.

SPEAKER_05 7:46

Okay, superb. Uh, just one final thing. Mark McCall's final home match this weekend, isn't it? It's going to be quite emotional up there. Uh, how do you detach yourselves from that?

SPEAKER_01 8:00

I I think you've got to be aware of it. Um, because they've also got some um players that have been with them for a while leaving as well. But Mark's Mark's been so central to their success for such a long time now, and um, no doubt that'll be a big motivation for him to put on uh a really good performance at home in his final game. So, one, you've got to be aware of it, and two, you've got to make sure that you're emotionally invested in this game right from the start because uh if if you miss the kickoff um and uh behind in that first 20 minutes, it's gonna be a decent mountain to climb. So we just got to make sure that um we're not shocked by the start or the energy or the enthusiasm, and we've got to be the drivers of that.

SPEAKER_05 8:40

Brilliant. Yeah, well I can see that Claire's itching to jump in, and she'll probably ask you some much more intelligent stuff than I've just asked you. Cheers, pal. Thanks, Neil. Cheers, man.

SPEAKER_00 8:51

I don't know about itching and I don't know about intelligent, but I will ask you some questions, Jason. I'll get to see you.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Good, heavy clear.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Yeah, very well. Thank you. I'm the opposite of Neil. I love it when it's like this. I'm so thrilled. That's good. What pleased you most when you watched back the big summer kickoff performance? Obviously, at full time, it was about heart and character and a bounce back after big game, but tactically, what did you get right?

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Yeah, I we we knew that they were going to be a big pack and they'd challenge us physically because that's what they did at Sandy Park. And um, you know, they're not gonna change how they're played. They've been so successful with that style for a long time. And we knew we had to weather the storm in that first 20 minutes. Um, I still think we probably we didn't gift them tries, they earned them, but we probably let a couple of soft tries in early, which we're disappointed in. Um, but what I loved is we we just stuck to task in terms of we wanted to move their big pack around. We knew we could put fatigue into their legs and on a bigger pitch at Twickenham, we felt if our skill set would hold up that we could move them around, um, particularly in that middle part of the second half. Um and I thought we did that really well. Um, I thought tactically we changed our kicking uh plan at halftime, and that was led through Smithy and Caden. Um, and I thought kicking longer against Exeter in that second half worked a treat as well.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

It was a kicking game and an ability to be tactically disciplined that got you the win against Sarris at your place earlier on this season. I remember Mark McCall at the full-time whistle said, actually, like this one's on us. We didn't prepare the team well enough, whereas you guys put on a you know chess masterclass with how you prepared. Is it naive to think that the same would work again on Saturday against them?

SPEAKER_01 10:27

Look, kickings, you've got to get the balance right, don't you? Like um, you know, if you can use kicking to regain momentum or turn the ball back over and then create that transition attack, which is where we think we can um thrive, and that's going to be important. Um, you know, we obviously saw a weakness in their backfield last time. No doubt they've worked hard on that. They've got different players now. Bracken's starting at half back. Um, so we'll we'll have a little look in terms of what the backfield does as they will at our backfield as well. But um, look, I'm sure they've had a good look at how he kicked against them and have got their own plan to combat it.

SPEAKER_00 11:00

And they're obviously four on the spin now in the Prem. Is there a common theme to those results? What are Saris getting right right now?

SPEAKER_01 11:06

Uh a little bit like Exeter. I I think they've just reverted back to how Saris play. They're being really physical. Um, Willis Earler carrying the ball with Venom. Um, their set pieces firing, you know, they're scoring a lot of points within the first three phase off their line out. Um, they're generating good field position with the squeeze game. Um, so we know that's uh it's gonna be a big task this week.

SPEAKER_00 11:29

And then just lastly from me, how did your England contingent get on? It was so nice to hear you say post-match at Twickenham. You hoped that Domers would get a call up and then to see his name on that press release.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Yeah, it was it was brilliant. We also had Chandler um and Caden get in there as well, which is great. But um, you know, Alex has carried such a load for us with his leadership this year and to be able to perform how he has both sides of the ball. Um, I think this weekend's gonna be a great opportunity up against Tom Willis. Um, I think that's gonna be a great clash um to watch. But um I'm hoping, I'm not hoping I know he will, but he's got two big opportunities to finish against two good teams to put a stake down for that England Hurt.

SPEAKER_00 12:07

Yeah, and he probably got a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep at Penny Hill, which no doubt has done in wonders.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Yeah, he's definitely locking the away trips at the moment, that's for sure. But um this week, this week's a good one for him.

SPEAKER_00 12:18

He deserves it. Amazing. Thanks so much, Jason. I'll see you on Saturday.

SPEAKER_04 12:22

Thanks, Clean.

SPEAKER_06 12:28

Hi, Jason. Hi, Paul, how are you? Paul, how are you? Good. Thank you. Well good, good. Um, you talked to me about game model next season. Um what what I mean, you sort of referencing that like that second half against against Exeter when maybe it's you know a little bit of the unexpected. Everyone assumes Quims will play a certain way, and you uh you can change it up.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Yeah, there's probably two parts of that, um, Paul. Game model is probably just a fancy word for your game style in terms of how you play. So um what we need to look at is there's probably a few things that click into that. One is what what is the best side that suits our squad, um, how we coach to that, and also um how we link in our club identity with it because Queens has got, you know, as we said before, such a powerful identity in how they attack. Um we need to make sure that across those three areas that we're embracing it nicely. And then probably the unpredictable nature is one of our values um of our true. So um, you know, that doesn't always mean running off your trial line. It might mean a kicking game like we had against Sarri's in the first round, might more mean a mauling game like we had against Newcastle, um, other games that might be transition attacks. So um what we got to make sure of is we've got the foundations of our play right first. Um, because if we just tried party tricks all the time, that's not gonna hold up under pressure.

SPEAKER_06 13:48

Yeah. Who who will be in involved in in formulating all this, Jason?

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Yeah, so it'll be the senior coaches and also the senior players. Um so we're we're gonna sit down next week just to kind of kick that off. We're obviously almost um there with staff appointment. Um, so from a staffing point of view, we'll have a fair bit of work to do um the first month um of that break. Um, but I'll catch up with our senior players next week and um have a good discussion around what their thoughts are as well.

SPEAKER_06 14:18

Yeah, and and you you talked about staffing appointments. Is it is this with with with the within your coaching operation?

SPEAKER_01 14:25

Yeah, yeah. Um our our performance team uh are finalized, our medical team, we're almost there. We've just got one more position to fill. Um, and with the attack, we're just getting uh the last position finalized this week.

SPEAKER_06 14:39

So will it be look radically different from this season? That that your your team, Jason?

SPEAKER_01 14:44

Uh that there will definitely be new faces coming in. Um and there'll be some internal staff promotions of people that have done well here that we want to invest in and um give them the opportunity to grow as well. So it'll be a bit of both there pull.

SPEAKER_06 14:59

Yeah. Because I mean I thought you know, I guess after after the the this season, which hasn't gone you know the the the way you wanted it, you you would have had a not just as a group but yourself a really good deep think about about what needs to what needs to be fixed and what is a very, very competitive league if you slowly offer you've had it.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

Exactly. Um and you know the the challenge I've put to the club and myself is we can't expect the boys to be number one in the competition. That's our aim if the staff aren't the best in their positions. And um, you know, as with any team, your staff group's a team within a team, and you know, every position isn't going to be the best in league within six months, but you know, in some positions we'll definitely have the best, and others we've got to make sure that we're developing them to be the best as well. So I I definitely want an aspirational, hungry staff group that will connect well together that can help set the environment that we want for the boys. Yeah. And and and yourself, Jason, do you go back to Australia for for a few weeks? I will, yeah. Yeah, I'll I'll head back home. Um, obviously, we we'll connect up with staff on Zoom and the like. Um, but I'll I'll head back home and connect up with family.

SPEAKER_06 16:08

Yeah, and and lastly, for me, how how how have you found it this season? Because you started thinking you'd be in charge of defence, you'd be thrust into the into the head coach. I mean how how how how have you found it? And what what have you sort of learned about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Um it's definitely been a washing machine. Um, like you said, probably heading into round one, um, wasn't anticipating the changes that were going to happen and um probably the the cascade of the changes then that came on um within the coaching room, um lower in the injuries that we've had to deal with, um obviously some some poor performance, some some reasonable games in there as well. And I think Paul also what we've used this year is just kind of finding what our game looks like moving forward. Um, because obviously what's been done, you know, if I'm honest, it hasn't been working in terms of being able to get into the top four. Like that's that's just fact and evidence. Um we've been able to expose a lot of young boys as a result of the injuries, which will you know hold us in good stead next year. If I look at Will Hobson, you know, he's playing 60 minutes a week at the moment with Finn out. So to put him behind Finn next year, that'll give us good experience. But um, mate, I won't lie, it it has been tough at times. Um uh what I've been really impressed with is the leadership and how tight the boys have stayed together. Um, that gives me a lot of confidence for next year and um you know, particularly our staff as well. Um I feel we've got a good group. We need to add to it, we need to keep evolving, but um definitely looking forward to next year to to start again.

SPEAKER_06 17:36

When they offered you the head, the head job on a permanent basis, did you was it something that you you you you you agreed to quickly, Jason, or did you uh have a good think about it?

SPEAKER_01 17:46

No, that the probably the hardest one is whether you do interim. Um, because I've done it once before and and and you want to do it to help the club and and help the boys and and keep everything moving, but at the end of the day, it's almost like an adopted child. It's it's got its own behaviors and standards and the way it operates and and staff and players and that type of thing. So your influence on it um in the long term isn't it's difficult to do as you're in uh game preparation week. Um it's always it's not a not so much a poison chalice, but it's a difficult job to do the interim because you're obviously getting judged and rightly so uh as you're going through the year. Um what I feel lucky with is the support of the club and and the owners and the board to give me the opportunity to lead the program where you can actually make proper change, you can have a good preseason, you can start to impact on the cap and recruitment um type of stuff that you want involved around the boys in terms of what's winning games. So I I feel very uh appreciative of the chance to lead the program. Um I know what's in front of us. Um I feel like I know what we need to do. Um and it's going to take a little bit of time, but I think if we can get it right with our foundations, I think we can actually climb a little bit quicker than what we think.

SPEAKER_06 19:07

Yeah, because I because I guess the thing about interim is you can't look to the long-term, can you? It's all about the the here and now.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

Yeah, and and you obviously still got, you know, you're still doing the defense full-time, and then you're doing the head coach role time, and you're obviously managing, you know, staff and players going through a change. And, you know, Danny, Danny's been such a big part of the club and and a big personality for us that um, you know, to have that missing leading into Bath in round one, it's you know, it does take some time. For some of the young boys, they've never had that before, where a head coach um, you know, has left. Obviously, with Danny's case, he's been promoted, but um it just changes your environment straight away. So they're quite tough to navigate. You know, you've got to know what you're gonna hang your hat on during those times to make the boys feel comfortable. But yeah, like I said, it's been a bit of a washing machine, but um, you know, I feel on field leadership, exposing some young boys. Um I think we're starting to identify how we want to play a little bit better for next year. I think there have been some real positives for us this year.

SPEAKER_06 20:08

Yeah, well, certainly the last two games, Jason. So make it hat trick on on the weekend.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah, fingers crossed.

SPEAKER_06 20:14

Thank you, thank you very much. Thanks, Paul.

SPEAKER_02 20:17

Hey Jason, it's Phil here. I'm gonna try to change onto a different uh machine, but thank you for your time very quickly. Um Paul says, two games to go. What what's the sort of important aspects of of what's to come in the last two games? Champions Cup qualification, finishing the season positively, you know, taking that momentum into the summer. Are those the two aspects you're now looking at from these last two games? Exactly that.

SPEAKER_01 20:43

Um number one is pride in the shirt. Um we've got two two big games, you know. Sarry's, as mentioned before, they're coming off four on the trot. They're trying to push hard to get into the top four. They're at home. Mark McCall's last game, so that's going to be a massive game. And then we play Northampton at the stoop. Um, you know, we've had a little bit of a look at the last couple of years where we've probably um fizzled out a little bit. Um, you know, put the challenge to the boys, but we've got a choice to make here. We we can either have a red hot goal at these last two games, and you know, why can't we finish fourth and four um for this season? Or or we can take our foot off the pedal and have a look at the break and um you know, make excuses. Um, but I know with the men in the room, I know which which decision they're gonna make there. So um look, we we know it's gonna be difficult. We're playing two strong teams, but we also want to have two wins to finish the year.

SPEAKER_02 21:34

And and I'm sure as you've alluded to, there's been some tough conversations, there's been some tough days um that's had to be had over over the last few weeks and months. But is it a case of from that, from that adversity, from that difficulty, comes strength, comes positive movement going forward, and and that's what's going to be the aim for next season to take what's happened this year and to use it as a strength builder for next season?

SPEAKER_01 21:58

Yeah, a hundred percent and Well, you know, times like we've had the the last little period, they're not nice, but sometimes you you actually have to have them to really uncover the parts of your program that you need to rebuild, refix, reset rather than just paper over the cracks and talk yourself into thinking that it's going okay when at the end of the day, if you look at top four results of the last decade, we've only been up there twice and won the comp once. So, you know, we've had a really deep dive, really honest chat right throughout our club from top to bottom about what needs fixing, what we need to keep to make it even stronger. Um, and you can just feel a general excitement around the place at the moment with you know staff getting appointed. Um the boys are feeling good about how they're playing at the moment. So if we can finish off the next fortnight leading into the preseason, um, I think there's a genuine buzz around our building at the moment, which is great.

SPEAKER_02 22:51

That was my final question, really. Are you excited? Um, I know you've got to see out this season and you want to get those two wins, but are you excited by what's going to come after you know get into the summer and start preparing for next season?

SPEAKER_01 23:03

Yeah, I personally am absolutely buzzing. Um, you know, having a look at our our recruitment and um just tidying up our cap a little bit, getting the getting the right people in the right seats from a staff point of view and uh um a squad point of view. Um I think the mindset of where our lads are at at the moment, they're they're positive, they're staying strong, they've they've been through a tough time. I know that's gonna put fire in the belly across the preseason and just to reset, just to come back in July 13 and um have a really good preseason, know our identity, know how we play, um, and just go after it. Um it's such a tough league. You you've got to be aggressive in your approach and you've got to enjoy what you do. And um, look, we're we're not gonna leave any stone unturned in terms of how we're gonna prepare.