Head Coach Richard Hill praised an ‘outstanding’ opening pre-season victory over the touring RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels – but warned his squad there was plenty of hard work to be done before the big league kick-off.
New-look Warriors impressed in the first outing of the pre-season schedule as first half tries from Tom Arscott, Alex Grove and summer recruit Errie Claassens stunned the Super 15 giants and led to a positive 15-3 win.
Warriors and a big home support were also buoyed by a powerful home defensive show as Rebels failed to cross the whitewash despite enjoying long periods of possession and territory in the second period.
“For a first game, and our first run out, I thought it was outstanding,” admitted Hill. “The Rebels were a real test for us, but I thought some of our attacking play in the first half was scintillating and we scored some great tries.
“Rebels must have had a little word in the dressing room at half-time and they put us under huge pressure in the second half.
“We defended for 15 minutes solidly with the starting 15 and then we brought the 10 replacements on to try and keep the defence going. What was pleasing was that we made changes but our defensive shape stayed the same.
“To look at both phases, although not deliberately planned, was very useful. We looked at our attack and defence, which held up well. To not let the Rebels score a try, despite all the ball they had second half, was a great effort.
“Bath scored one try against the Rebels so to score three was pleasing,” he added. “Although we have had to defend heroically in the second half it is always better when you have scored three and got points up.
“When you have a lead you have the incentive to keep defending. If that happens in an Aviva Premiership game I won’t be too concerned. Get some points on the board and then you can defend if you have to.
“I don’t think on any occasion did they look to have an overlap, we always had numbers on feet and people enthusiastically in the line wanting to make tackles.”
Hill also praised the impact of his newcomers with former London Welsh duo Errie Classens and Josh Drauniniu combining with deadly impact in an impressive first half show of attacking running rugby.
“Josh will grab headlines if teams kick to him,” smiled Hill. “He is deadly and the supporters who watched Warriors against London Welsh last year would have seen Josh and Errie cut us to shreds at times.
“They are two very good players and it was good to see them both look good in the first game. We need strength in depth and have some great players in Chris Pennell, Tom Arscott, Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey. To have those two come in and hit that standard means we are now looking good.”
Worcester Warriors now prepare for a trip to the south coast to face Plymouth Albion at Brickfields on Saturday and Hill acknowledges there is still work to be done.
“We still conceded silly penalties,” he said. “Particularly in the second half when we did relieve ourselves and then conceded a silly penalty and went back into our own half again.
“You can’t afford to do that. If you put the effort in, and you have managed to clear your lines, then you look to sustain some pressure.
“In the first half we also saw restarts not taken correctly, but really that, for a first game, is just picking.
“I am delighted, as we all are with the start. It is only a start, but the intensity and enthusiasm that was shown, the real effort that you could see, was spot on. That is what we have got to produce in the Aviva Premiership week in and week out.”