Richards: Second-half injuries cost us
Captain Michael Young, centre Luther Burrell and lock trio Sean Robinson, Greg Peterson and Marco Fuser all departed either at or after half-time in the Gallagher Premiership clash, with the Cherry and Whites taking full advantage.
Speaking after the game, the director of rugby said: “We lost our skipper in Micky Young at half-time, and then losing Luther Burrell and all three second rows during that second half really hurt us.
“It affected our set-piece delivery, which is so important, but even so I thought we should have won on the day.
“Fair dues to Gloucester because they came out firing for the second half, and we didn’t react to it.
“Losing those five key men was a big blow but that happens in sport, and we just didn’t react well enough.”
Richards added: “We lost our composure, not helped by having two back-row boys doing their best in the second row in difficult circumstances, and we just couldn’t get the platform we wanted.
“They scored three easy tries where we just didn’t cope with their threat, and it’s hugely disappointing.
“Our control began to disappear after half-time, Gloucester exploited it well and credit to them for doing that.
“We’d played well in the first half, and had we had more set-piece parity in the second then we’d have been in with a great chance. It wasn’t to be, and that’s really disappointing for us.”
