Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore acknowledged the challenging beginning to the season after a summer filled with changes. Following two consecutive losses, Quins currently sit at the bottom of the Premiership table, suffering a staggering 48-0 defeat to Gloucester, marking the club's heaviest league loss in 26 years.

Gilmore expressed his expectations for a rocky start, stating, "We're certainly not going to be at our best early doors, but it won't be too far away." He emphasized the need for the team to remain focused, especially after the dismal performance against Gloucester, which he labeled "unacceptable."

After serving as interim head coach for six months, Gilmore was officially appointed as the permanent boss in March, despite a disappointing previous season where Harlequins finished ninth, their lowest in eight years. The club has since made significant changes, including hiring Robbie Deans as performance director and bringing in Rob Hunter and Brad Cooper as forwards and attack coaches, respectively.

Gilmore remains optimistic about the team's potential to improve, having previously stated he had "no doubt" they would perform better this season. However, he pointed out that the players are still adapting to a new attack system and line-out strategy, which he estimates will take four to six weeks to fully implement.

Former Harlequins and England winger Ugo Monye criticized the team’s display against Gloucester, calling it "one of the worst performances" he has ever witnessed, highlighting issues in scrums and line-out play. Monye noted that the team failed to score in a league where points are often easily earned.