I think that was just a slap in the face for the players really - they'll have trained hard for their place this week. As indicated by the interview with Jay Pitts on their website

Out of the squad from last week are Ben Crooks, Green and Seymour.

First 2 picked up injuries without even playing and Seymour is better discussed elsewhere.

Wish Gentle would have been a bit tougher with his selection but if the injuries are true then perhaps his hands are tied a little.

Mcdonnell
Lineham
Arundle
Yeamo
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Horne
Lynch
Houghton
Watts
Galea
Tickle
Westerman

O'mealy, Johnson, Whiting, Heremaia

The players now know that no matter how bad they play they won't be dropped

Is that because the squad is getting thinner by the day...

In fairness, how many players do we have that are fit and full time? Cunningham, Hadley, Nicklas and Briscoe? Any others?

In an ideal world more players would have dropped out, but our squad isn't actually that deep so options are limited.

Disappointed not to see Green & Crooks recalled to the side .

Injured?

Looks that way .

"One off"???
It's been happening for years!!
Between 5 and 8 of that team have been involved in similarly unacceptable performances over the last 4 years. They are the only common denominator left as the coaches , owners , physios etc have all changed. If the threat is never applied there is no wonder that it just keeps happening. If the problem is that there's no one else then surely regardless of frustration or hope a professional coach has got to keep it "in house" , avoid making public empty threats and think of a way to get more out of those that underperformed?
At the moment we are way too soft on every front and some backsides need kicking. I hope privately that's what's been done regardless of the public indications that everything is fine.

You want injured players recalled to the side?

PG hasn't been here for 'years'. He's been here a season and a bit. I imagine he is, quite rightly, basing his assessment of the players on what they've done under him rather than what may have happened under a different coach and regime.

There have been no public indications that everything is 'fine'. Pretty much every talk that Gentle gives puts emphasis on how much work remains to be done.

I'd have liked to have seen more players replaced after last week. But availability of replacements limits things a bit and we as fans don't see how players are showing up in training. Gentle's job is to put out what he considers to be the best side he can each week, not leave players out just to make a point - no matter how much we fans might like him to do so.

I agree with this point, but it's something Gentle may wish to consider before he gives his post-match press conference.

Having seen the press conference I think he just lost his rag a bit. Not in a ranting and desk-thumping style but I've never seen him so obviously hacked off and struggling not to slag off the players in public. I'll forgive him the slip of the tongue/pen this once given the extreme provocation. If I'd have been in his place the fallout would have been a lot worse.