Prop Chris Horsman has won a word of encouragement from club chairman Cecil Duckworth after Worcester Warriors’ heart-breaking defeat at Newcastle.
The Welsh international tight-head was sin-binned after 64 minutes for tackling a player without the ball – then watched his side’s 16-point lead turned into a 20-19 defeat with the last move of the match.
The yellow card was regarded as a turning point in the match, which Warriors had controlled, and sparked criticism from disappointed fans.
But, ahead of Friday’s Sale match, Mr Duckworth is backing the 29-year-old to show his character and silence the critics by displaying the form that has made him such a favourite at Sixways and in the Principality.
“Kai (Horstmann) was also carded, but I spoke to Chris at the airport on Friday night and he felt responsible for the defeat,” he explained. “That’s the kind of person he is. But he’s faced bigger challenges than this in his life and I know it’ll make him determined to put things right the next time he pulls on a Warriors shirt. I have every confidence that will happen.”