Gilmore calls Harlequins' 48-0 Gloucester defeat unacceptable amid overhaul

Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore has described his side's 48-0 defeat by Gloucester as unacceptable while explaining that major changes to their playing systems are still taking effect. BBC Sport reported that Quins sit bottom of the Prem table after losing their opening two matches, with Saturday's loss their heaviest league defeat in 26 years.

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Speaking to BBC Radio London, Gilmore said he had anticipated difficulties early in the campaign following a summer of change, but did not regard the Gloucester performance as an acceptable part of that process. He said the team could not expect to be at its best immediately and needed to continue working through the changes rather than abandon its approach.

Two central parts of the rebuild are a new attacking system and a new line-out system. Gilmore said the latter would need four to six weeks to become established. Returning international players are also learning the changes after coming back into the squad; although they had completed preparation work, he said significant elements of the team's game remained under development.

The coaching reshuffle followed a ninth-place finish last season, Harlequins' lowest for eight years. Gilmore was confirmed as permanent head coach in March after six months in interim charge, having taken over when Danny Wilson left to join Wales' coaching staff. Robbie Deans subsequently came in as performance director, with former Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Hunter taking responsibility for the forwards and Brad Cooper appointed attack coach.

The Gloucester defeat also drew strong criticism from former Harlequins and England winger Ugo Monye. Speaking on the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Monye highlighted problems at the scrum and line-out, in backfield coverage and at the gain line. His assessment underlined that Quins' difficulties extended beyond their failure to put points on the scoreboard.

Gilmore said his response to the squad had focused on honestly identifying the things players had failed to carry out. He pointed to what he considered a reasonably productive four-week period before the defeat and said the task was to return to hard work. His message combined acknowledgement of the scale of the Gloucester setback with continued backing for the changes being introduced.