Kingston admits Quins are in trouble
February 23, 2002

Director of rugby John Kingston has admitted Harlequins' precarious position in the Premiership is now "serious".

The Stoop outfit remain 11th in the league table following a convincing 18-6 defeat by Gloucester but could slump to the depths of the Premiership if Leeds spring a win over Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Harlequins have now suffered eight league defeats on the bounce and only have five games, two of which are at home, to get out of jail.

"The situation is not desperate yet but very serious," said Kingston, whose side only managed to score through two penalties against Gloucester.

"We have only got five games left and that is not a long time.

"I think it is fair to say that we had a situation today where the players are now looking like a team that has lost too many games.

"There is a lot of tension and that is self-perpetuating. As soon as Gloucester scored a try today we became very tense and wound up. We couldn't free the shackles to play rugby.

"The thing is it's very difficult to perform when we are under pressure. We need to break free from that and give ourselves a shot of confidence."

Kingston also conceded that he is feeling the pressure to produce the results but has no intention of giving up.

He added: "I am definitely feeling it. I carry the can for this club and I review my performances like I review anyone else's after a game.

"But I am not going to let it get me down. We are really going through it at the moment, but if we get through it, what a wonderful feeling that will be."

In stark contrast, Gloucester's departing director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre is almost certain that the West Country outfit will qualify for next season's Heineken Cup by finishing in the top four of the Premiership.

"My job has been to get us into the Heineken Cup next season and now with this game out of the way I think we have got a 95% chance of doing that," said the Frenchman, who was asked to leave by owner Tom Walkinshaw by the end of the season, despite the fact that he led the Kingsholm team to their best season in six years.

Saint-Andre leaves for France on Monday and is believed to be Bourgoin-bound although he claims he has not signed a contract yet.

"Today was not the best game and we should have scored two or three more tries but we were strong in defence and in the set piece."

He continued: "I have really enjoyed my time with this club and have learned a lot. English rugby is the best in the world at the moment."

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