Ryan pleased with Warriors physicality

Warriors Director of Rugby Dean Ryan admits he was happy with the physicality of his side against Sale Sharks despite being edged out in a close encounter.

Warriors were narrowly defeated 22-16 against a strong Sale side in their second pre-season clash of the year.

But with youngsters such as Val Rapava Ruskin, Mike Daniels and Christian Scotland-Williamson fronting up against their more experienced opponents, Ryan says it was a day of positives at the AJ Bell Stadium.

He said: “We brought a very young group up here knowing that Sale were going to use this as the main springboard into their Premiership season.

“We had five or six players around the age of 20 competing against a fully loaded European side and I thought we stayed in the contest very well.

“They were a little more clinical than us but physically I thought we did very well. We played them five times last year and not once did we balance out physically like we did today.

“It will give us a platform to grow. We’ve got one more pre-season match against Premiership opposition and we’ve got four or five decent players to come into this side. So I’m really pleased that we’ve had a good look at everyone.”

Warriors begin their Greene King IPA Championship season against Bristol Rugby in a fortnight after completing their pre-season calendar against Exeter Chiefs at Sixways next Friday.

And the Warriors boss insists he will focus his attentions on developing his group of players throughout the campaign.

He added: “The Championship isn’t the same as the Premiership and you don’t need to be the finished article on day one. You need to be a side that grows over the season

“I’m well aware of the competition and I’m well aware of the challenge. But I’m happy with where we are and what we’re doing with this group.”


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