Richard Hill is convinced Phil Larder has already had a big impact on the Warriors after the superb try shutout against RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels – but warned his squad they cannot just rely on defensive steel in the Aviva Premiership.
New Defence Coach Larder, a former England and British & Irish Lions coach, worked with the Warriors every day during the recent week-long training camp in Switzerland.
The results were immediately on show as a new-look side defended resolutely to deny the touring Rebels, who dominated possession and territory in the second half, a try in the pre-season game on Monday night.
Hill believes the respect that Larder commands and attitude he has already instilled in only a short space of time is already paying off.
However, he admits the Warriors they cannot afford to try and simply defend for their lives every week in the Aviva Premiership this year and must go on the attack to win games.
“We flogged them with Phil Larder all last week when he was over with us on the pre-season camp. He was with us in Geneva and had a session every day,” said Hill.
“He did a huge amount of work, on the attitude more so. When you have got someone coming in to specialise in defence, who you know and respect as the best in the business, then these players listen to him.
“Nobody wants to see him when he comes down this Thursday – nobody will want to go in his office that morning and say they have missed a tackle.
“One player is a little bit concerned – but I think there was only one missed tackle against Rebels.
“That is what you want, someone who treats the defence very seriously and will demand high standards.
“If you have got to go and see the headmaster on Thursday morning, then you better watch out.
He added: “It was outstanding defence against Rebels, but I have been told this is what Worcester had to face week in and week out in the Premiership. It was a case of ‘here we go again’ all game. We can’t afford to do that.
“The difference against Rebels was that we got three tries on the board and could have even got a few more points. We got three tries up and got the cushion.
“It must have been hard for Worcester supporters to come here every week in the top-flight and think ‘batten down the hatches, we’re going to get wave after wave of attack’.
“We have got to find a way of defending like we did against Rebels and yet working our way out of our 22 and making sure we don’t end up back at square one.
“We don’t want to do that for 80 minutes in a tough, uncompromising league like the Aviva Premiership.”