Bristol owner slams coaches

The coaching set-up headed by former All Black selector Peter Thorburn at Bristol came under fire from the English club's owner, Malcolm Pearce, after their loss to Harlequins at the weekend.

However, senior players and one of Thorburn's key recruits, former All Black Daryl Gibson, have rallied around in support of the team's management.

Pearce's blistering criticism followed Bristol's 26-17 Zurich Premiership defeat.

Rugby website planetrugby.com quoted Pearce as saying that Bristol's performance was disgraceful. "We have an entourage of coaches here and they look to me an utter waste of time and money.

"I would have thought 15 players coaching themselves and with a desire to win could have done better on their own.

"We're halfway through the season and should be jelling better than that. I don't mind losing if the team looks as if it's out there trying to win."

But a number of Bristol's internationals have stepped in to take responsibility for the club's recent disappointment.

"The way we performed had nothing to do with the coaches. We had a good week training, but went out and played badly," Gibson said. "Mentally, we let things slip and as players we recognise that is unacceptable."

His team-mate, England prop Julian White, was also adamant that the blame for defeat could not be laid at the management's door.

"The coaches aren't to blame. We're the people who go out there and we didn't perform. That's our responsibility.

"It's down to us to get back into training this week and back on track for the Heineken Cup."

- NZPA