Head Coach Richard Hill was pleased with the new attacking threat on show from his Warriors as they beat Scarlets in pre-season – and praised double try hero Josh Matavesi for his eye catching contribution.
Matavesi grabbed a double and Ben Howard was also on the score sheet as Warriors beat Scarlets 22-7 to make it back-to-back wins over Welsh regions following last week’s success over Cardiff Blues.
Hill was delighted to see his Warriors again show real attacking intent in the pre-season clash but insisted there was still much work to be done before the big kick-off on September 1 against Bath Rugby.
He said: “What has pleased me most is that we look more threatening with the ball in hand. We made too many individual errors in the second half that cost us, but there are glimpses that we have a better attacking game.
“It’s always good for the confidence to get a win. We showed some good stuff, some flashes of inspiration, but amongst that some things were not as good.
“The aim is to remain unbeaten. Sometimes your pre-season won’t go to plan, but if you are winning that is important.
“We had a different selection today and some were playing their first game, the likes of Jonny Arr, Josh Drauniniu and John Andress. They were nervous so once the first game is under the belt it gets easier. I can forgive a little bit of rustiness.
“Competition for places is huge and I will look at the video before I pick the team for Rotherham on Tuesday night. There is enough we need to work on that they know Monday at training will be hard.”
Matavesi grabbed the headlines after his double and Hill admitted the new Fijian centre had the X-Factor to light up the Aviva Premiership.
“Josh is a talent and he has settled into the club very quickly,” said Hill. “Sometimes it can take people time to settle down, but he played well when he came on last week and had another good game today. He looks a very good acquisition.
“Last season we were averaging one try per game and you are not going to win games consistently unless it is pouring down with rain. You have got to have the capacity to have strike power and I’m pleased with what we have.
“We have Semisi Taulava who can carry ball over the game line to give us go forward and now striker runners, the likes of Matavesi, who can make it count.
“We needed some players with attacking flair to add to people like Josh Drauniniu in the squad. David Lemi has come in, someone who can create tries out of nothing, and Josh Matavesi is the same.
“Josh can do things that other players have probably not got the confidence to do at the moment. But it is those little things that can unlock defences.
“He loves his attack. He is so enthusiastic and he wants the ball. We are a good defensive team, we spent 70 per cent in our half today and held firm, but we also need that little bit of quality that can open up defences.
“I was also pleased for Ben (Howard) and if we could get another 14 like him you would be happy. He did well at Cardiff so we gave him another opportunity to back it up and he did just that.”
“Josh can do things that other players have probably not got the confidence to do at the moment. But it is those little things that can unlock defences…"