Richard Hill admitted his Worcester Warriors had finally set the standard he demands as they produced a clinical and impressive performance to secure a bonus point win over Rotherham Titans at Clifton Lane.
Head Coach Hill described the four try win in the RFU Championship as the ‘best performance of the season’ as Miles Benjamin (2), Marcel Garvey and Pat Sanderson all crossed the whitewash in a 32-3 success.
Worcester cemented top spot with the convincing win in South Yorkshire and Hill now wants his team to back up the victory when they entertain Esher Rugby at Sixways next Saturday.
“For the first time we looked like a Premiership team and performed for 80 minutes,” said Hill. “It has been driving us mad that we have only played for a period of 15 or 20 minutes in games.
“Today was 80 minutes of top quality rugby and even the last ten minutes, when we were down to 14 men and defending a series of five-mere scrums on our line, the players refused to let our line be crossed.
“To come here and not concede a try, remember Rotherham have been undefeated here all season, and put four tries on them makes a real statement.
“We’re delighted with the bonus point too. We would have settled for the win up here, to get the four tries is a real bonus.
“Rotherham have admitted they were never in the game, in every single department we outplayed them. It was a great effort.”
Hill was also pleased as his Warriors performed from the first whistle as they produced a show bristling full of physicality and aggression.
“We did an extra extended warm up on the field today, the theory being that if we did more we would ready to play. A short warm-up seems to take us another half an hour to warm up in the game,” admitted Hill.
“The players were ready and we talked about our starts and not performing for 80 minutes. There was a real good intensity all week and you could sense on the bus on the way up that there was a real attitude to kick-start this season.
“We knew this was going to be a big forward battle on a narrow pitch, if we were going to click into gear this was the place to do it.
“I think the group have come together this week after we had a real heart to heart on Monday,” added Hill.
“Last week, to only be 9-3 up against Plymouth at half-time at home, was just not acceptable. There was a real steel in the club throughout the week that we were going to play to our full potential.
“The players were as frustrated as the coaches, the supporters and the owners. They have been going home after games and sitting down knowing we should have beaten teams by more.
“It’s been a culmination of the frustration and it came out today in our display. I had no doubt at all that whatever 15 or 22 we sent out against Rotherham we would have got exactly that response. The whole group has been determined this week.
“Now, that is one game and there is a long way to go. We have seen it happen before when we have had a big performance and the following week back to how we were. We have got to make sure we back this up, the standard has been set.
“We had a massive contact session this Monday and I didn’t have to say a word, everyone knew that was the intensity that is required when we play on a Saturday.
“They know now the physicality and intensity required to win these games. We produced it here and I expect us to back that up.”