Confident Pennell looks to New Year with optimism

Full back Chris Pennell is determined to build on his recent rich vein of form as Worcester Warriors look to 2013 in high spirits.

Pennell has been to his very best in recent months in the No.15 jersey at Sixways but is not resting on his laurels as he looks to the New Year with optimism.

And first up is a difficult trip to Sale Sharks and the new surroundings of the Salford City Stadium this Friday night (kick-off 8pm) in the Aviva Premiership.

“I’m happy with a lot of aspects of my game and feel like I’m improving every week. There’s obviously still a long way to go and that’s the most exciting thing for me,” said Pennell.

“I don’t think I’ll be happy until I have got a rose on my jersey, so I will just keep working hard at the basics of my game and I’m fairly sure I will get a few more opportunities to show what I can do in attack and that excites me.

“I’m confident in what I’m doing on the pitch and I know where I fit into this team. I’m really enjoying playing.

“It wasn’t so much worrying about if my body would hold up, because I know it can and I genuinely feel the injuries I’ve sustained have been bad luck rather than my body letting me down.

“Touch wood, I’d like to think I’ve finally had my run of bad luck and, with all being well, I can have the next seven, eight, nine years injury-free, playing at the top of my game and reaching the potential I know I have got.

“I think that I am a much better player defensively this year compared to last,” he added.

“I’m making more dominant hits and I’m dominating the air when the ball goes up. I was doing that last year, but the improvement has come from general confidence around my game and my body.

“That has had a knock-on effect on my attacking game, but the exciting thing for me is that I know there is still so much more to give. I think I can start doing more as the season progresses.”

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“I’m happy with a lot of aspects of my game and feel like I’m improving every week. There’s obviously still a long way to go and that’s the most exciting thing for me…"

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