Jason Gilmore press conference | Harlequins vs Northampton Saints

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

The Head Coach discussed:

• ⁠Finishing the season positively
• ⁠Building on performance through the block 
• Benefitting of exposing younger players
• Marcus Smith’s game management
• Young fly-half prospects
• Bryn Bradley’s international credentials
  
  

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hey Jason, how you doing?

SPEAKER_03 0:03

Good for yourself?

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Yeah, not bad. Not bad, thank you. Um so one more match to go. Um how are you feeling at this moment in time?

SPEAKER_03 0:13

Yeah, good. I I think um I think the boys are in a pretty good place. We're we're pretty keen to finish this block off um well before we obviously hit a break and and get into the preseason. But um, you know, we've we've built a little bit of momentum in the last little period and um it'll be nice to finish off well.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Um still a bit of frustration from from last Saturday because there were some points that were sort of left out there that could have had a very different impact on the game.

SPEAKER_03 0:41

Yeah, well I I said to the boys after I was really proud of their effort, like to go toe-to-toe with Sarry's, um, you know, score that try with Endo at the end to give us a chance off the kickoff. I I thought they stayed in the fight well, um, but to get more azone entries than Sarry's, and um we probably blew a couple of chances there um to apply some scoreboard pressure. Whereas I felt in the previous three games against Sarry's, we were probably the dictators of, you know, you don't get a lot of opportunities, but you take them. But um, you know, sitting back and reflecting on it, you know, some of the young boys that we had, like we had um Elliott Williams, Sat Car in the second row up against Mara, Toji, Tizard, and Azeque. So we probably didn't have the experience on the field that we had had previously. Um, and that's why I was really proud that we actually created probably more chances. Um, but probably that inexperience meant that you know we probably didn't take them as well as what we could have.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Um, still one more game to go before you get into that sort of you know rest and then of recovery and then pre-season, but um still something to play for in this game. I know obviously you'll need Newcastle to do you a favour in order to get into the top eight, but you can just take care of your own business, and it's a good challenge. Northampton, we probably expect some changes maybe to their starting 15, but it's still a big challenge.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

Yeah, and look, Northampton have rotated previously and still um you know got good results in one game. So um, you know, they're they're leading the league for a reason. So I think if they're going to rotate, it's not like they're gonna be bringing in poor players, so they're still gonna be strong. Um look, in terms of Champions Cup, what will be will be. Um probably losing that losing bonus point on the weekend is it's probably just dented us a little bit if I'm honest. But um I think deeper than that, I'm just really keen to get a good performance to finish the season, whether we're in champions or challenge, we'll deal with that post the game. But I just want us to finish strongly.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

Yeah, it's important as well for you to finish strongly as a group and for from the coaching staff and the players' point of view as well. But for the for the fans, it's been a difficult year for everyone, hasn't it, really? But we sort of we've talked about what is going to happen moving forward, and to take a really positive performance and hopefully a positive result into the summer should be good for everyone on the pitch and in the stands.

SPEAKER_03 2:53

Yeah, you you want people to be proud of your team, don't you? Um, and to do that, you've got to compete week in, week out, and winning plays a big role in that as well. Um, you know, I'm no different to teams I support back home in that. Like you want to be proud of your team and watch them and support them, and and when you're not performing as to what you'd like to, um it hurts you as a supporter. Um, so it is important. Like, we're back at the stoop, it's our final home game. Um, look, our supporters in Quincer and all of our support group um that have stayed rock solid with the boys, um we we feel their support, we feel their love, um, and we feel a responsibility to play well for them.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

You want to finish well, and you said last week that you're excited about what's what's to come. Is there almost a sense now that um you want to do this and finish in a really good way with the last game? But you're almost chomping at the bit to get into pre-season after you've had a bit of a break and gone home and and and sort of had a chance to uh to R and R yourself. But I get a sense that you're chomping at the bit to get into preseason and really build for 26, 27. 100%.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Um personally, uh obviously stepping into an interim role before round one, um, you're obviously trying to run the program on the fly a little bit, and um you know that that's got its challenges, but to be able to just start with a fresh slate, um, we've obviously got some new stuff coming in. We we've um changed the squad up a little bit, but to actually have time to plan the preseason, get our game model right, um, build the environment that um we can excel in, enjoy um as we come in each day. That they're the pieces of the puzzle that I just love putting together. And even with the boys talking to them, like there's a there's a genuine buzz about, you know, we want to finish well, but they're they're so keen to get started in preseason, which is great.

SPEAKER_00 4:40

And you've seen that in this block, you've seen lots of positive signs in this last block.

SPEAKER_03 4:44

Yeah, well, if you look at it, we um we also exposed a lot of young boys in that block too with the injuries and and you know, we we copped our licks to be fair in the Prem. We had some good results in Europe, but we copped some licks there. Um, we worked really hard during the Six Nations um on our game. Um our young boys finished with a couple of really good results in Prem Cup. Um, you know, knocking over Bristol, Exeter, good win against Newcastle. Um, we went toe-to-toe with Saris with that group. What's shining through is those boys have now got eight to ten games under their belt, and they're starting to feel comfortable and confident at this level. So, you know, when you get a Finn backs to back next year, you've got Will Hobson with 15 games under his belt, and he's confident that he can play at this level. So, what does that do? That that creates depth and confident depth for us. So um, look, they're they're the positive signs that um I'm looking at taking into next year.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

Um, I know it's not your um uh game, uh, but you the last two opponents against was it were the two teams that are coming up head to head down at Sandy Park for sort of when it takes all top four finishes well. Well, I mean, you know, you're in a perfect position almost to analyse where those two two teams are. Do you see that one being a close one as well at the weekend on Saturday?

SPEAKER_03 5:57

Yeah, definitely. That that they play really similar styles. Um, you know, they'll be big on set piece, they're the two biggest aerial teams in the competition. Um, you know, they're they're very pragmatic and deliberate with how they play. Um, Sarrows are obviously on a roll with five in a row at the moment. Exeter probably play themselves back into form after losing a couple of games that they're probably disappointed in. Um, you know, it could come down to home home ground advantage with that one with Exeter at home, but it it's going to be close.

SPEAKER_00 6:25

Um, and just finally for you, what what do you do? Uh how will you relax? How do you just sort of switch off for even if it's just a week? You probably have lots of thoughts in your head anyway, but how do you switch for what's your plans, man?

SPEAKER_03 6:37

Yeah, I don't know if I'll switch off too much if I'm honest there, Phil. Um I'll I'll go back home back to Australia and just reconnect up with family and friends. Um I'll I'll try to just uh turn off for a week or two, but um look, we've still got so much work to do. We've got um stuff that are coming on. Um we've got an attack, an attack system that we need to build. Um, we've got game model, um, we've got preseason planning. Um, I'll I'll get some uh professional development as well while I'm back home. Um but yeah, I'll get a bit of a balance. I'll I'll definitely get some time away. But um, yeah, um I've got to make sure that uh we're ready to come ready uh July 13th.

SPEAKER_00 7:16

Brilliant. Thank you for your time. Thanks for the season as well, uh Jason. Thanks, Phil. Appreciate it, mate.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Good afternoon, Jason, for the final time this season, mate.

SPEAKER_03 7:27

How are you, Neil? I love your shirt, mate. That's a very good one.

SPEAKER_01 7:30

Yeah, yeah, well Lambretta, I believe it is.

SPEAKER_03 7:32

Yeah, that looks lovely on you.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

Yeah, mate. Yeah, but I've got some Bobby Dazzlers if you're gonna make you some bright pinks, and yeah, I've got some bright pinks and some bright greens and things like that. Um if I ask you for your overriding emotion from this season, what will it be? Frustration?

SPEAKER_03 7:53

Um that's a good question. Um that there's it's probably gone on waves if I'm honest now. That there's definitely been frustration. Um real pride, particularly with the boys in some certain games and blocks in terms of fighting, when you know, we've obviously been having it come at us from all different angles, and some patches probably rightly so, and another's probably a little bit unfair. Um proud of how our group stayed together and really strong, and and that gives me a lot of confidence. Um probably disappointed in some games that I thought we should have performed better in, and we let ourselves down. Um, you know, that the one that really stings the most was, you know, I've said it before, but that big game at Christmas up against Bristol. Um, you know, on our patch at Twickenham. Um I was really disappointed in in the effort there. And I and I look at myself with that one in terms of how I prepared the team and the mindset going in. And you know, obviously I didn't get that one right. Um and probably now just building into excitement, mate. Um, so it's probably I don't know if they call it the seven stages of trauma or whatever it is, mate, but um probably a mixture at different times.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

But you've had some highs, highs, haven't you? You've had the European Cup run, the win at Twickenham against Exeter, uh the win in Cardiff against Bristol. So so it kind of waves and balances.

SPEAKER_03 9:24

That that and that's what I mean in terms of differing emotions, like really proud of the group. Like, if we look at our European run, um, you know, we we put a good good performance against Stormers um at home. Um we went record score in Europe against Bayonne, beat La Rochelle and La Rochelle, and that was when those injuries were hitting as well. Like we did that with a pretty young team, um, you know, knocking over Sarre's in the first round. Um obviously Exeter, Bristol in this block has been really positive, but also our young boys. Um, you know, like we we obviously rolled the dice and played a lot of young boys in Prem Cup, and people are probably questioning that a little bit. But we debuted 23 players under the age of 22 in Prem Cup. And what's that shown is we've beaten Exeter with your Elliott Williams, your Zach Carr, Johnny Greens, your Sean Kerr, your Jamie Bensons. Um, so that to me shows really good growth in those boys from the start of the year to now. So that that's been really pleasing.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Yeah, but that is the whole point of the Prem Cup, isn't it? It's a development tool. So anybody that that that probably questions you probably doesn't know the game very well.

SPEAKER_03 10:32

Yeah, it's a tricky one because you know some teams all go fully loaded in Prem Cup, so you're never quite sure the level that you're gonna face in Prem Cup, but but look, we held our nerve, we we stay pretty rock solid with it. Um, and also once you get to Six Nations, you're probably just getting some minutes into some key guys and blending them in with your young boys. But um look, we were very strong from the outset with Prem Cup what we wanted to do with it, and um you know, probably wasn't nice at times in terms of results, but the boys flipped the script on that, and I was really proud of them.

SPEAKER_01 11:03

Is one of your key things next year getting everybody to bring the best out in Marcus Smith because when he plays well, you seem to play well, and vice versa, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 11:15

Yeah, it it's both. Um, like he's our marquee player, so um he he has to be board class for us every week. Um and for our team, we need to be functioning out our best for Smithy to be even better. Um so to me, it's it's a bit of a two-way street with it. And if you look at the games that we've won this year, I think he's picked up three or four men of the match awards in it. Um one thing with Smithy, you can never deny his commitment to the team, his preparation. Like we finished training an hour and a half ago, and he's still out there goal kicking in the rain with his kicking coach. You know, everyone else is up at lunch um tucking into a burger, and Smithy's out in the rain goal kicking, and that's probably the uh the part of Smithy that no one sees. No one works harder than than Marcus, and um he puts a lot of pressure on himself, which he should. Um, but uh yeah, but we've got to be better as a team, and and Smithy knows he's got to play well for us.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

He seems to get a lot of unfair criticism. I think everything he does is analysed and overanalysed. Last weekend it wasn't that he doesn't play well without a big 12, and the week before it was something else, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_03 12:21

Yeah, I I think if you look at Smithy on the weekend, you look at how astute his kicking game was. He kept kept his four, he kept the ball in front of his forwards. Um, he he's really picked up his ball running again, he's really direct, made a couple of really nice line breaks. I thought he tackled really strongly. Um contest kicking, he put them all on the money. So he's leading a young team around. Like if you look at the two forward packs on the weekend in terms of experience and age, um, you know, I know which ten in the game had more experience at his disposal, and I know which ten didn't. And I thought Marcus's game on the weekend he showed great control, which you know, people are going to have a crack at him, they will. It's a bit like Finn Russell. You you can't win sometimes with those boys. If they play well, you're expected to play well. If you're slightly off, then everyone will be at you, and that's just the nature of the beast being one of the best in the world.

SPEAKER_01 13:11

Can I just ask you about 10 next year? You've obviously you've announced that Jared Evans is leaving, you've got Jamie Benson gone. Uh, do you feel you've got enough below Marcus taking out two very experienced players?

SPEAKER_03 13:26

Yeah, definitely. And obviously with those boys, Benau's Irish qualified, so he and he's uh he's he's gonna try his hand at um going down the Irish system. Um Jared's got to make the move to be able to keep his Wales aspirations going in terms of World Cup as well. So um, you know, those boys have been a big part of us. Um definitely um definitely confident with where we're sitting. Marcus literally plays 80 minutes a week. So to have two tens on big money in behind him in terms of our cap probably imbalances our cap a little bit. Um we've signed George Furbank, who's played 10 at international level. We've signed him for a reason that um he can uh pinch hit at 10. We've still got Tyrone Green and those boys that can cover fullback if needed. Um, we want to give Connor Slevin a bit more of a go next year. He's been working really hard behind the scenes and he's come on in leaps and bounds this year. Um, and Josh Bellamy, uh, who will give a go this week in the 23. Most captain Lynn under 20s player at 15 and 10. Um, you know, we've got two good young tens coming through our system, and we're really confident that they can do a job behind Marcus with George.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

Yeah, well, when you say that, it doesn't look that bad, really, does it?

SPEAKER_03 14:37

No, and and and look, that that don't get me wrong, Neil, they're not as experienced as um Jared and Jamie. Um, but look, Jamie wasn't that experienced 18 months ago as well, until we gave him the opportunity. So um I'm not gonna have people in our squad that we don't believe in and don't want to play, otherwise, it's a waste of their time and it's a waste of our money in the cap. So um, you know, those guys have got to train hard, they've got to work hard, don't get me wrong. Um, but I've got full confidence they'd have called upon um those lads will do well. Plus, we've got Sean Kerr, um, you know, good ball playing 12 that we want to develop more as a 10, a 12-10 as well. So, yeah, that's a challenge I put to our coaching group. We've got those men in the building, we've got to coach them hard and make sure that they're ready to go.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

Uh, one final one from me, you've got Bryn Bradley, who's I think uh been named in the wider Wales squad. Would you expect him to get capped this summer? And is he ready for it? Do you think he's yeah?

SPEAKER_03 15:36

I I think he is. Um I think with Bryn, it'll be interesting because he's played a lot of minutes for us in the last four months. He's really carried our centre group. Um he'll be up against Dingwall this week, obviously, or good centres from Northampton. So to me, every time he steps up against an international centre, that to me is the measure. So if he can handle himself and go well against Dingwall this week, um then he's in a position that he can play, you know, obviously international rugby. Um he's just got to make sure he keeps his consistency, both sides of the ball, and not kind of not that he's doing it, but you can't float in and out at international level. Um, you know, the odd error here and there, you can't cop that at international level. So all that's before him. But mate, if he if he gets his chance, and I hope he does, um look, we'll be fully in behind him.

SPEAKER_01 16:24

You know, sometimes you need to be dropped in at that higher level to improve on those things, don't you? And to actually make you realise that you can't do these things.

SPEAKER_03 16:36

Yeah, and I'd say with Brune, I had this chat with some of the coaches the other day, it's one of those players I reckon he plays to the level. So if I watched him play at London Scottish, he goes solid. Um when he plays Prem Cup, he's he's solid in Prem Cup. But as soon as he stepped up to Europe and Prem, I think he's played the best he's played at Quinn since I've seen him. So he seems to be a guy that flourishes the next level that he steps up. So, you know, if if he gets the call up to Wales, which I hope he does, I'll be really interested to see what the growth in uh what the growth in him is at that next level.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

Okay, mate, brilliant. Thank you very much indeed for your help this season.

SPEAKER_03 17:13

Thanks, Neil. Appreciate it, mate.

SPEAKER_02 17:17

Hi Jason. Hey Paul, how are you, mate? You're good. Um just just staying with with Brim Bradley. I mean, you've you know you've given him his chance this year in in 2026. So you clearly have seen something something in him, which you you you're looking to to games to bring out.

SPEAKER_03 17:36

Yeah, it's probably what Neil said before, like when people are saying we don't have a big 12, well Bryn's a pretty big 12, um, you know, to have outside of him. Um and it's probably those those two getting a good combination together. But I I keep saying to him, like, he's just got to play big. If if he's gonna ball play too much and not carry heavy into the line and not hit hard, then I might as well go and pick a smaller inside center that can ball play. Like his job is gain line, hit people, and get the ball back at the breakdown. And it's that simple for him. Um, and I think he's feeling a lot more comfortable in his role. Um, if he keeps it simple, probably on Neil's previous question in a national level, his job at test level will be no different. He's got to win gain line at test level if if he gets selected. So I think if he keeps his game simple, um, he he plays to his size and his power. Uh, I think that's when he's at his best.

SPEAKER_02 18:28

I thought that um that Bristol game in Cardiff. I mean, to me, that that that was the best best I'd seen in both both sides of the ball. And you're going in a lot of jackaling. You want you want some turnovers for you there with Donbra.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

Yeah, he is brilliant, like probably behind our back rowers. Um, he'd be he'd be our best jackal in the squad behind Werv, Kenners, and and Alex. Um, he generally gets one or two turnovers a game for us at the moment. He's such a big body and he's so flexible, he can get into such low position. Um, but you know, he's he's been playing a little bit injured as well. Like he's a tough cookie. Um, and he's you know, there's no sign of him. He doesn't want to rest, he doesn't want to pull out of games, and that that's really important to me with men that we want to build around our team moving forward. Is you know, he's not parachuting out at the first sign of trouble or injure or anything like that. Uh mate, he he he rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck in. So I've been really proud of Brent this year.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

Yeah, because again, going back to that bristle game, I don't think they had Bosch off on the wing, it's a bit of a surprise picking him in. I mean, but he seemed to be tracking him everywhere and um not letting him make any ground.

SPEAKER_03 19:34

Yeah, and and that's little things like you know, when the ball goes to edge, you know, it's important that your centres keep high in your defense when they step back in, you're in a good position versus dropping low. And you know, they're the little skills that we we work on with the boys, and that Bryn's really picked up well in terms of his movement patterns and where he needs to be in his anticipation of the play and where the ball's gonna land for him. And um, likewise, I think with his attack, I think he's kept it simple. And look, when he runs direct and he runs straight and he runs hard, he he dents that line nicely for us.

SPEAKER_02 20:03

Yeah, well, no one's gonna volunteer to attack him, I wouldn't have thought, James.

SPEAKER_03 20:07

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

So I mean he's a big guy, isn't he? So you want him to play like it said. But he I mean, clearly bags are potential, and it's just it's it's now down to him to release it.

SPEAKER_03 20:17

Yeah, and and it's opportunity, isn't it? He's probably been a little bit frustrated the last few years that you know he's just got snippets here and there, and he hasn't been able to get that regular start. Um he was really unlucky at the start of the year. He would have started at 12 for us, and he picked up a Nuggle that put him out for six weeks, which really frustrated the hell out of him. Um, you know, he went back into our second team at training, worked really hard. Um, obviously, him and Wagey were going head to head for that 12 jersey for a period. Um, you know, Wagey getting injured probably opened the door for Bryn to really grab hold of the jersey. And look, he's the incumbent now. Like it's up to the other boys when we turn around in pre-season, they've got to get the 12th jersey off Brynn. So um he's earned that right to have it on his back.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

Was the um that Saracens game um in the end to me they their defense won that game for them? Whereas earlier in the season you were losing games largely because the opposition attacks were sort of uh shredding you. Does that show the sort of strides that you've you've made in in recent months, Jason?

SPEAKER_03 21:22

Yeah, it's well what we've looked really closely at, Paul, is um our time in possession. Like if you look at the stats at the moment, we carry the least in the competition and tackle the most. Um and there's a few things in that that we're looking at is um one, I think we give up the ball too easy at times. Um and I think it's too easy to say we play like queens and then we get flimsy with the ball and offload it when we shouldn't, kick it away when we shouldn't. Like, you know, if if we want to be that team, then you've got to have the ball to be that team. Um, and when you end your set, you've got to make sure that when you're turning it over, you it's on your term. So If you're kicking it, you've got to be kicking it to regain momentum or possession, not just uh kick it because of the sake of it. The other one is your defense has to be rock solid, like we turn the ball over the second most. Um, you know, but we've had patches this year where we just um haven't been good enough in patches of the game with our defense um and and with leaked points. Um and the other one is our set piece. Like if you look at the second half, I think we turned over three of our first three lineouts in top 30 position, which doesn't allow our attack to then launch off it. Um so there's a couple of big pillars of our program there that um you know, with a bit more experience, a bit more coaching hardness into us, and a bit more maturity with the ball. Um, that I think uh we can make some good strides next year.

SPEAKER_02 22:47

Yeah, because I mean Leno was a sort of thing with Saris, and you mentioned earlier, you've got two young second rows, they've got Mitoji, Tizard, and and is he is he equipped looking behind them?

SPEAKER_03 22:57

Yeah, exactly. And look, that that's a great challenge for us, isn't it, too? But um at the end of the day, that that's rugby like it can be a challenge, but it's not an excuse, we've got to be better. Um, you know, so if we if we can get parity between, you know, I'm not saying we need to flip that and be the leading carry team in the comp and the lowest defensive team in the comp, but if you look at the best teams, um they've got parity in balance of the ball that they use compared to what they defend. And um, you know, I I think there's a couple of simple but key areas that we want to uh make sure we fix up in preseason.

SPEAKER_02 23:29

Yeah, and I mean obviously it's busy, busy summer for you. With um, you know, with with Robbie, how how exactly would it work? Will he be here for the start of uh preseason?

SPEAKER_03 23:40

Yeah, he'll do a fair chunk with this actually. Um so he'll do the first three weeks and then he'll do our first three games. So he'll be here for um the first two Prem Cup fixtures, and uh we've got a friendly after that leading into round one. So he'll be here for six weeks of the preseason. And what what exactly are you looking to get from him?

SPEAKER_02 24:01

I mean, obviously his his experience and knowledge, but any any any any sort of micro bits?

SPEAKER_03 24:08

Yeah, here well, there's probably a couple of areas that we're looking at. Obviously, um, in and around our team culture and our development and our identity. Um, I had a good chat with him the other night, just in and around that. So um he'll be side by side with me in that terms of how we put that together. Uh, obviously how we coach. Um, he'll be mentoring us as a group and and giving us feedback. You know, just need a drink of water. Um, and obviously mentoring that attack component of our program as well. Like we'll obviously be appointing a new attack coach pretty soon. Um, you know, he's got his thoughts on what the squad looks like and what we're capable of. So our attack coach will work pretty closely with Robbie as well.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

Yeah. Because it you know, it promises to be a really fiercely competitive prem next season, with you know, with Red Bull's investment and the signings they've made, the way you've played in in recent weeks, Jason, showing showing that there's definitely a foundation. You gloss to the same sale piler signings, and you've got a current top six. I mean, it could be could be a 10 a 10-way shootout next season. And what extent more holidays after you've just said that to me there, mate.

SPEAKER_03 25:17

Um, but no, I mean that that's why it's so good, isn't it? That that's why the league's uh so great and why it's got eyeballs like you want it to be a competitive league. So um, but yeah, it's tough. And and that's why we've got to get our pre season right.

unknown 25:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:31

Yeah, brilliant. Well, thanks. Thanks for your help this season, Jason. It's been excellent, and uh have a have a good summer.

SPEAKER_03 25:37

No, I appreciate it, boys. Appreciate all your helping support the ship. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Thank you very much, Jason.

SPEAKER_03 25:42

Thanks, thanks, thanks, Phil.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

Thanks, Neil.