Gillies focus on victory not milestone

Craig Gillies admits his focus will be securing another big RFU Championship victory when Worcester Warriors tackle Esher Rugby and not his major milestone as he prepares to break the club’s appearance record.

Lock star Gillies will make his 223rd appearance for Warriors on Saturday at Sixways (kick-off 3pm) and overtake legendary front row Tony Windo in the record charts.

However, while the giant second row will be flying high in the lineout he is planning to keep celebrations grounded as his only target will be securing a home win and building on the impressive performance against Rotherham Titans last weekend.

“I am trying not to think about it too much,” said Gillies. “”I guess it is a nice achievement to reach and a nice landmark.

“It's my ninth season here and it has been a roller coaster, lots of highs, a few lows. It's been a journey.

“But, for me, it is all about the team at the moment. We are taking it week by week and focusing on performances.

“The challenge is to perform better. Personal goals and milestones are aside for me at the moment. It is about looking at how we play as a team and build towards the play-offs.

“We have to build on the display we produced against Rotherham. The intensity on that day was there, right from the moment we got on the coach and made the trip up.

“You could sense that everyone head their game head on, knew what was required and did a job on the pitch. Our scrum was particularly dominant early on and we gave them no platform to play off in the lineout either. Both those aspects added to our victory in Yorkshire. Now we focus on Esher and nothing else.”

Watch the Warriors – and record-breaker Craig Gillies – tackle Esher Rugby in the RFU Championship this Saturday at Sixways. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 or click HERE for your seat for all the action.


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