If his players perform the way everyone knows they can, Worcester Warriors will chalk up their first Guinness Premiership win of the season and start putting smiles back on faces around Sixways.
That’s director of rugby John Brain’s firm belief as preparations for tomorrow’s clash with fellow-Premiership strugglers Northampton Saints approach a climax.
He has named four changes in his line-up from the team that started last Saturday’s match against Leicester Tigers, when Warriors came back from 30 points down to within a whisker of becoming the first visiting side to take a four-try bonus point from at Welford Road.
With Aleki Lutui on international duty for the Pacific Islanders, Ben Gotting comes in at hooker, while Darren Morris replaces Chris Horsman – who plays for Wales in Cardiff – at prop. Richard Blaze reclaims a second-row slot alongside Craig Gillies, while centre Dale Rasmussen returns at centre after completing a three-match suspension.
“We know what we have to do,” Brain says as his players embark on a crucial three-match run against teams in the bottom half of the table, a stark contrast to the opening six matches of the season, which has included games against the top four teams.
“We miss a handful of players to international duty but, to be perfectly honest, it doesn’t matter which 15 take to the field. We all know the job that we have to do, and I’m confident that the guys who start will be focussed and do what they have to do. If we attack as a team and defend as a team, we will beat Northampton. It’s that simple.
“The reason we’re in a hole is that our rugby basics have not been good enough. We have the ability. We just need to keep faith with the system and the players and execute far better in the key areas of the game.”
He emphasised the Sixways crowd have a big role to play in the match.
“When you’re in this position, players must play, coaches must coach and supporters must support. The more volume that they can turn up, the more it gives a lift to the players and will help us in our task.”
Team: 01 Lee Fortey, 02 Ben Gotting, 03 Darren Morris, 04 Richard Blaze, 05 Craig Gillies, 06 Kai Horstmann (c), 07 Tom Harding, 08 Drew Hickey, 09 Ryan Powell, 10 Shane Drahm, 11 Mark Tucker, 12 Thomas Lombard, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 14 Aisea Havili, 15 Lee Best
Replacements: 16 Callum Black, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Tim Collier, 19 Gavin Quinnell, 20 Matt Powell, 21 James Brown, 22 Thinus Delport