Head Coach Richard Hill has encouraged his Worcester Warriors to really go on the attack when they face Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup at Sixways Stadium on Thursday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Warriors welcome the 13-times French champions for the first ever time as the European competition kicks off in Worcester in front of the Sky cameras.
Hill has named his team for the clash – which features call-ups for Tom Arscott, Chris Pennell, Oliver Tomaszzcyk and Matt Kvesic – and wants his players to get on the front foot against the Paris-based giants.
“We have put a huge emphasis on defence since the start of the season with Phil Larder coming in as a specialist defence coach, it has paid dividends in the games,” said Hill.
“What we are going to do now is change the focus for these next couple of weeks and really put a massive focus on the attack and try and get that part of the game really spot on.
“We have tweaked a little bit of strategy but also concentrated on lifting the intensity up in attack.
“If we can match the intensity that we show in defence with our attack then we are going to be strong over the next few weeks. We have got to be at them from the start.
Hill hands wing Arscott a start after he impressed in the LV= Cup and revealed he always planned to play the flying back despite the suspension of Miles Benjamin this week by an RFU disciplinary hearing for one week.
He said: “I was always going to put Tom into team… I was going to give Marcel a break but I have had to swap the decision around with Miles suspended.
“Tom has had a couple of very good games in the LV= Cup and looked very lively every time he has taken the field.
“The supporters have seen that and he scored one fantastic try here so he deserves a go. He looks sharp, quick and powerful and we want to unleash him on Stade Francais. We are looking at ways to spark off the attack and Tom might be able to do that.
“Errie (Claassens) has played eight games in the league and done very well,” added Hill. “Chris (Pennell) hasn’t has too many games outside of the Premiership to stake a claim so, to be fair, he needs to play and be given a chance.
“Chris is scheduled to play against Stade Francais, Sale Jets and then over in Parma in the second round of the Amlin Challenge Cup. That gives him three games to really get his game together and challenge Errie for his place.”
The game with Stade Francais also sparks happy memories for Hill after he masterminded a 17-0 victory over the Paris side when in charge of Bristol back in November 2007.
And he admits the lessons learnt on that day remain just as important four years on at Sixways.
“It is a similar sort of situation,” claimed Hill. “They (Stade) always have always had a star-studded team and they are a great team.
“Individually they are a fantastic team with the likes of Byron Kelleher, Felipe Contepomi and Sergio Parisse, probably the best number eight in the world.
“They have all these stars and as a team that plays against them you have to hope the sum of all your parts is stronger than the individuals.
“You have to work as a team and try and beat them with working together. If you don’t defend well against them then you are in trouble.
“When I was at Bristol we really worked on our defence to try and close them down. The way our defence is going at the moment it is very water tight for most of the games. We need to put the squeeze on them.”