Clive Griffiths called on Worcester Warriors to step it up a level when they faced Petrarca Rugby in the European Challenge Cup next weekend after victory at Sixways Stadium.
Worcester claimed a six-try bonus point 38-19 win over battling Bucuresti Oaks on an ice cold afternoon on home soil – a result that booked a last eight spot.
But Head Coach Griffiths wants his side to continue to blow away the rustiness next week after a three week period without rugby.
“I absolutely want to see an improvement next week. I can understand people’s frustrations. We didn’t get the continuity and flow that we wanted. It was stop start affair with a lot of whistle,” he said.
“When we did get something going we looked good, we got phases together and we have scored six tries. Three were from general play and three from the set piece – we have to be happy in that respect because we could have scored four or five more.
“But it was a sketchy performance and we need to improve that next week.
“We got what we wanted out of the game, a full compliment of points and we need the same again next week against Petrarca Rugby so we can get a home quarter-final draw,” he added.
“We aren’t happy with the overall performance. There were 32 penalties in that game and that is a lot in the modern coupled. With the fact we haven’t played in so many weeks, I felt we were rusty at times.
“There were a catalogue of errors and we didn’t get going at times. We only had a few backline goes at that them in the game and scored two tries and had one disallowed.
“We picked up the sixth try at the death and I felt that was justice because I thought the Hal Luscombe try shouldn’t have been knocked off.
“I thought there were some good individual performances. Dale Rasmussen played well at 12 and Ryan Powell was industrious. Luscombe looked the part and will get better and better. Rico also looked sharp.
“There were some good things to come out of it but there is still more to come. I am sure we will benefit from that 80 minutes under our belt next week.”
Griffiths insists Warriors can now progress in the European competition but admits they will still have to do it the hard way.
And the Head Coach has called for a big win next week to build momentum before a return to league action on January 31 against Sale Sharks.
“It looks like we won’t finish in the top two so will have to go away in the semi-final,” he said.
“It was a great day out last year in the cup final and our fans were fantastic. We were very disappointed to lose so we want to go back and win it.
“What we need to do now is build momentum for the match with Sale and beyond. We have got the rustiness out of the way now and next week we are looking for a massive improvement to kick-start us into the league games.
“If we had made some of the mistakes we made today in the Guinness Premiership we would have been punished for it.”
Warriors saw Chris Latham, Chris Pennell and Ryan Powell all limp out of the action but Griffiths reported encouraging initial injury news.
“Latham just came off with a precaution – we were not taking any chances today,” he said.
“Chris Pennell has a bit of a medial strain; we don’t know how long he will be out, if at all. We will see what the scan says and take it from there. We will look again at that on Monday. Ryan Powell also came off but I am sure he will be fine.”