Chris Boyd: Gloucester technical director says coaches will have to ‘modify’ style

New Gloucester technical director Chris Boyd has warned that the team may have to “modify” its expansive style of rugby until they have the players to suit.

The New Zealander has taken up his post, on a consultancy basis, this month, and hinted that he feels that the current squad is not entirely suited to the type of game head coach George Skivington likes his side to play.

The Cherry and Whites have won just one of their 10 league games this season and are out of the running for silverware.

Boyd says the club management has already signalled its intent to try to improve that next season with the addition of big names like Wales international forwards Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan, South Africa lock Jean Kleyn, and the return of scrum-half Dan Robson.

Boyd says those signings, made before he started, will add “a sprinkle of decent stardust” while he will also focus on bringing home-grown talent through the ranks.

On the style of play, which has been a bone of contention, Boyd told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: “The style probably isn’t a historical Gloucester DNA.

“There are three parts to that – your philosophy on how you want to play the game, then that the philosophy aligns with the players we’ve got, and our game plan next year will be a reflection of the strengths and weaknesses of the team.”

He added: “Something has to change. Either the players have to change or, more importantly in the short term, the coaches have to modify the way they want to play the game to suit the players.

“The biggest mistake you can make is to try to play a game that the players are not capable of playing.

“Most important is that the club and the coaching group is really clear what that looks like and that the players absolutely understand what the amount of structure is, what the freedom to make decision is, what the behaviour is in certain parts of the field – the risk and reward is around what you are trying to do.”