Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Northampton Saints.
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On securing Premiership status by beating Gloucester
- It was huge game and we played really well which was the key.
- It’s fantastic that at this stage of the season we have secured our Premiership status.
- It’s a very tough league and a really good competition which is shown by the fact that we played Gloucester, who are third in the league and deservedly so, and we beat them. By and large, on any given day, any team can beat any other team.
How do you approach Northampton Saints?
- We have got the job done, that’s the approach we have got to take. Saturday is another huge challenge, it’s a six day turnaround and they are a very good team who are challenging for a play off place and they are at home.
- The players enjoyed Sunday night and they certainly earnt it. They had 48 hours to recover from playing Gloucester and came back in today. We reviewed the game today but when that finished we put it to bed. That’s history. You have to look forward to the next challenge.
- The lads are playing well at the moment. They are motivated, they know that there are two games to go and they want to do as well as they can. The only way you can do that is to put in two big performances.
On Andrew Kitchener and Joe Morris moving from the Three Pears Warriors Academy to the senior squad
- Joe has been doing an undergraduate degree at Oxford until now and he has been busy with his studies. This this will be the chance for him to devote himself to full-time rugby and prove himself.
- Andrew has finished the season strongly and I expect big things from him next season. He’s an intelligent boy, he’s a big man, a very good lineout forward and very good around the field. He has played at number six before and his work rate is incredible. He has got the physicality already at this age. I think he’s a good all-round player and if he continues to progress it’s but a matter of time before he gets an international cap.
There are a number of good young players coming through
- It’s fantastic that there are so many good young players coming through. We’ve got Joe Morris, Beck Cutting, Kai Owen in the front row, Justin Clegg, Kitch, James Scott at lock, Ted Hill and Tom Dodd in the loose forwards, Ollie Lawrence and Will Butler at centre, Nick David and Alex Hearle. It’s quite incredible.
- We want to build this place through homegrown Worcester players. I would like to see the core of the squad from Worcester.
Injuries
- Marco Mama suffered a dead leg in the Gloucester match and needed to go into hospital for an operation on Sunday. He will probably need a further operation this week.
- GJ van Velze is fully fit again and will return against Northampton.
- Jamie Shillcock is training but is not quite 100 per cent yet.
- Scott van Breda has had an operation on the shoulder injury he sustained in the Cavaliers match at Newcastle.
- Ryan Mills has also had a shoulder operation.
- Perry Humphreys will have an operation during the summer on an ankle but he will be fine for the last two matches
- Josh Adams has trained today and he will be fine for Saturday.