Coach – Team must cope with injuries

Head Coach Richard Hill insists his Worcester Warriors can cope with any injuries within the squad as James Collins, Chris Pennell and Neil Best were all forced off in a battling victory over Nottingham Rugby.

Young flanker Collins was stretchered off and taken to hospital as a precaution after a head injury at the breakdown while captain Pennell and back row dynamo Best were also withdrawn.

However, Hill believes the Sixways squad must be able to deal with any injury issues and insisted the injury news from Meadow Lane was not as bad as first feared.

He said: “James Collins is up and talking which is good news. He took a nasty knock to the side of the head, but there is nothing too serious with him, although he went to hospital as a precaution.

“Chris Pennell and Neil Best both took knocks, as did Tevita Taumoepeau, so we will have to look at them again on Monday.

“We have strength in depth and a few players will play this Monday night against Leicester Tigers, we have got a good squad.

“At this stage of the season the knocks that we have received are only going to be one or two weeks. We may have to do without certain players but we have got to be able to rely on other individuals.

“There is a huge amount of talent in our squad that is not here tonight. Matt Kvesic is a top quality player and was very close to playing tonight. If James Collins is struggling then we will just slot Matt in.

“Joe Carlisle came on for Chris Pennell and didn’t have much to do. Most of the time I looked up he had about 50 yards between him and the nearest Nottingham player. But I was pleased that he slotted in and was composed.

“We will monitor Chris Pennell and if he cannot play next week it will be Tom Arscott or Willie Walker who we turn to, one of those two will almost certainly come in if Chris does not make it.”


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