Fisher won’t stay silent in Twitter storm

GLOUCESTER head coach Laurie Fisher has defended his decision to use social media to argue with fans and former players about the Cherry and Whites’ tactics.

Fisher says he took to Twitter to counter “vitriol” aimed at Gloucester, whose narrow loss at home to Northampton on New Year’s Day dropped them to ninth in the table.

Following the exchanges on Twitter, Fisher told the media this week that the pressure of coaching was something “that lives with you day and night, every single day of the year”.

“It’s important to try and engage with the people who support your club,” said Fisher. “You’re going to get some negative feedback at times and that’s part of it.

“What you hope is that you get reasonable commentary.”

Former Gloucester prop Nick Wood, who left Kingsholm in June after 15 years, was among those who publicly messaged Fisher to criticise the club for “kicking the ball away”.

Fisher responded: “But yet again the side that kicks more wins the game. Riddle me that.”

Wood then became involved in an exchange with current Gloucester hooker Richard Hibbard who tweeted: ”Come on pal… don’t forget too quickly how tough results like this are to take”. Wood replied: “I’m not forgetting. Merely suggesting how to convert pressure and leave our best players on the field when it counts.”

And Fisher, replying to one fan, tweeted: “I’m assuming you were dissatisfied with the win over Wasps and the manner in which it was achieved?”

The latest exchanges come as a takeover bid by Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad moves closer; a decision from rugby’s governing authorities on whether the France-based billionaire can buy a controlling stake in Gloucester is expected by the end of the month. In a frank interview with the media last week in the wake of Richard Cockerill’s sacking at Leicester, Fisher, below, had said: “It’s a pressure, results-based industry. We all know that and we are all under pressure. “Clubs may be more inclined to make changes mid-season now. If you look back ten years, not a lot of guys would have lost their job midseason – you’d see your season or your contract out.”

Gloucester inside back Billy Twelvetrees believes the responsibility for the West Country side’s recent narrow losses lies squarely with the players.

“It’s completely us,” he told The Rugby Paper. “Look at the games, look at the stats.

“What we do as players with the Gloucester shirt on is too many errors in costly zones.

“When we’re in the opposition 22 applying pressure we’ll either drop the ball or give away a needless penalty.

“It can be demoralising for you. In key areas of games this season we haven’t done as well as we should have.”