Bryan Redpath was critical of his Gloucester side despite beating Newport-Gwent Dragons to reach a third successive LV= Cup final.
Gloucester coach hard to please; Edwards bemoans opening try
Bryan Redpath was critical of his Gloucester side despite beating Newport-Gwent Dragons to reach a third successive LV= Cup final.
The Cherry and Whites waltzed into the Northampton showpiece with a 45-17 victory over their Magners League opponents.
But Redpath found time to pick the bones out of their 10th win on the bounce and ordered his players to start better when they take on the Newcastle Falcons in next weekend's final.
He said: "I'm disappointed by that in the first half. We played in our own half off scrappy possession and then had to kick and chase because nobody knew where they were.
"We never really controlled the game in the first half, although in the second half we were good.
"Take away the interception try (Robinson's) and the two opportunities they had and it could have been 12-12 or 17-12 at half-time.
"We thought we could score from wherever, which we couldn't. We have been really strong for the last 10 weeks, protecting ourselves at the right times and putting pressure on the opposition rather than ourselves.
"We had a couple of individuals who jumped off script, which is fine when you are going forward and in the right areas of the pitch, but not necessarily in the wrong areas.
"No matter who you are playing against, you can't ever do that."
Redpath conceded that his side will go into next week's final against Newcastle as favourites, but insists they cannot afford to take the game lightly and become losing finalists for a third time.
"It will be a massive challenge but we have to stick to the key things and what we know," he added.
Ridiculous
Hazell's early try caused controversy as referee Christophe Berdos awarded it without referring to the video official, even though Hazell was under a pile of bodies.
Television replays showed that the Gloucester flanker dropped the ball going over the line and that the try should not have been awarded.
And Dragons 'acting head coach Darren Edwards said: "It was not even him dropping the ball that was wrong.
"There was double banking (at the line-out) on their catch and drive which I thought was ridiculous. I don't even know why that try was given."
Lock Adam Jones, fly-half Jason Tovey and replacement Jevon Groves scored tries for the Dragons and Edwards added: "We are very disappointed by that performance.
"We were well beaten out there but what we can take is that we have exposed some of our players to a big game which should do them well in the future.
"The start was important and we had some opportunities but gave the ball away too cheaply.
"You have to play at a good tempo to challenge a team like this and it was just that fine line of when and where not to do it."
