Aviva Premiership: Gloucester are continuing contract talks with Freddie Burns
Nigel Davies was relieved at Gloucester's 12-6 win over Worcester while they are continuing talks with Freddie Burns.
Last Updated: 22/12/13 6:50pm
Burns was dropped to the replacements bench on form for the derby clash and watched his fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees fill his fly-half boots to kick four penalties against two from Worcester's stand-off Ignacio Mieres.
High-flying Leicester Tigers are reported to be chasing three-times capped Burns, with current England ace Toby Flood deciding to leave Welford Road at the end of the season.
"We are in discussions with him and when we are ready to make an announcement, we will do so," commented Davies.
However, when pressed on whether that announcement would be in the near future, Davies added: "Well maybe. We will just have to wait and see. Freddie Burns is a professional and whatever he does, he will do as professionally as he can.
"From our own point of view, we are only focused on this season. We have a lot of work to do. It was a relief to get that result today and we have to build on that and keep on doing what we are doing.
"Freddie will be a big part of this season and, as I say, when we are good and ready to talk about next season, we will make that statement. There is nothing concrete to say at present."
Right decision
Davies also felt it was "absolutely the right decision" to play Twelvetrees, who is generally a centre, at fly-half.
The Gloucester boss added: "Billy adds another dynamic. Freddie has not been on the top of his game and he openly admits that so to take him out of the firing line today was very important."
Worcester director of rugby Dean Ryan, meanwhile, was enraged by a couple of incidents in the match. One if which was when replacement Paul Warwick drove for the tryline but referee J P Doyle did not ask the fourth official to check the TV replay for a try.
Ryan said: "I thought the penalty against us at 9-6 was just shocking and I don't understand it. And then why we didn't go for a TMO decision (for the possible try) when watching it on TV was finite just amazes me.
"For us to be forced to play a ball which is over the line with about 20 people in a ruck and then get turned over is just abysmal.
"The fourth official is there and he needs to sit there, watch the TV screen and get his protractor out to measure whether it touches the line. For him (JP Doyle) to say he did not think it was is just appalling.
"That would have been a five-metre scrum and potentially our chance to win the game. That is why I am annoyed but I am pretty proud of the players today. We are getting better irrespective who we play. So I am looking forward to the new year."