FRENETIC Gloucester must relax to have any chance of realising their top-four ambitions, calls boss Nigel Davies.
Frustrated rugby director Davies has told his edgy Cherry and Whites to stop heaping pressure upon themselves, after Saturday's tense 15-14 Kingsholm victory over London Welsh.
Freddie Burns' five penalties were just enough to haul Gloucester home against the Premiership's basement club, after Phil MacKenzie's try pushed Welsh 14-6 ahead.
The more ramshackle Gloucester recognised their shortcomings, the more the off-key hosts tried to force the issue too far.
Former Wales centre Davies has challenged his charges to end the vicious circle this week – to have any chance of seeing off champions Harlequins at Kingsholm on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Admitting Gloucester will comfortably be underdogs against Conor O'Shea's men, Davies said: "In some regards our players have just got to relax a little bit.
"I want them to play rugby, and I genuinely believe that unless we play some good rugby we won't hit the top four.
"So we'll have a look at that.
"We just didn't adapt particularly well, there were times when we needed some of our backs to step up and take control, and put their foot on the ball maybe and just calm things down a little bit.
"We were very frenetic and we put pressure on ourselves, and that plays into the hands of a team like London Welsh.
"I can't fault the effort but we need more than effort right now. The boys are hurting after this, they know they haven't performed anywhere near their ability. And it's about using this week to make sure we're in the right place on Friday, against one of the best teams in the league.
"That's a big challenge for us. I think we were maybe a little bit rusty and not streetwise enough.
"We never stepped up and took control of the situations.
"I made it quite clear to the group that we don't want just to be passengers in these next four or five games, we want to go out and grab the opportunities.
"It was really disappointing that we didn't do that, but at least we got the four points and we'll work hard next week.
"We've got a huge challenge against one of the form teams next week. And we'll have to be far better in order to compete for victory."
Davies had asked Gloucester to attack straight through the heart of the London Welsh defence.
By half-time he realised it was not working – and said the unsuccessful tactic will not be employed again too soon.
Demanding far greater sharpness and incision this week, Davies said Harlequins will be certain favourites at Kingsholm this weekend.
Backing Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees to restore poise and verve to Gloucester's midfield this week, Davies said the players must sharpen the focus of their attacking approach.
He continued: "I got some things wrong in the first half in terms of our gameplan, and I think we'll go back to more of what we did in the second-half.
"There's some subtle things we can change, and plenty of things we can do.
"But there's a heck of a lot of quality players in this squad, and they'll want to show what they're capable of on Friday.
"Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees are just settling back into things at the club after the Six Nations, and they are coming along.
"But we just need to settle back into what our game is exactly, for that key axis of ten and 12. Harlequins have to be favourites for this game – and we've got a lot of work to do."
