Mike Ruddock is ready to unleash wing star Rico Gear as the New Zealand ace starts his comeback trail in Worcester’s very own version of the Italian Job on Saturday.
Director of Rugby Ruddock takes his side to Italy for the opening game in the European Challenge Cup against Petrarca Rugby (kick-off 3pm local time) as the side look to go one better than last season.
And the Warriors boss has revealed Gear is set to play, after recovering from an Achilles injury, for the European Challenge Cup runners-up as they look to make a winning start.
“Rico is fit again and barring any problems he will come with us to Italy and he is due to take Miles Benjamin’s place on the wing,” said Ruddock.
“He has trained really well. We have not rushed him back to get him right and hopefully he will now put that to bed and kick on and move up a gear.
“Miles has got a virus so we will leave him at home this weekend and get him right. He should be available for Bucuresti.
“Most of all we are looking for some continuity from last Sunday against London Irish. I don’t want mass changes but there will be a need to rotate players to try combinations.
“We need to manage our resources and whatever happens we will have a very good bench and I expect us to share the load.
Warriors face Petrarca Rugby for the first time in competitive action and Ruddock has ordered his side to give them plenty of respect as they look for a winning start to the Euro campaign in the Stadio Plebiscito.
“We are just focussing on the first game, we have looked at Petrarca Rugby and they are a tough team to beat at home where they have won all their home matches in the league,” he said.
“This will be like a cup final for them and they have some Premiership experience, players like Ludovic Mercier at outside half and four or five guys who have played a good standard of rugby.
“I have told my players not to under estimate them and we need to go there and do a professional job. We went to GRAN Parma last season and played really well and got the bonus point. That would be the icing on the cake with this trip.
“It’s all about building momentum. It was great to get off to a start in the EDF Energy Cup, that really sets us up for the big tie with the Ospreys in a few weeks.
“We want to do that in Europe and get two away wins, hopefully there will be some sunshine and we can play some good rugby and show the talents we have in the team.”