Press Conference Notes 17.12.19

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Gloucester.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the Dragons European Challenge Cup match

  • We turned over too much ball and compounded that by the number of penalties we gave away.
  • Discipline and errors make a massive difference in conditions like we had last Friday.
  • We did really well to come back from being 13-0 down to lead 16-13 but, having said that, we were a long way short of our best.

On the prospects of progressing from the group

  • To some extent it’s out of our hands. We need to win our last two games against Enisei-STM and Castres and get a bonus point in each match too.

On facing Gloucester

  • They are a good, strong side, particularly at Kingsholm.
  • We’ve prepared reasonably well but we have a tough block of games coming up over Christmas with Gloucester away followed by London Irish at home and then Saracens away.

On Niall Annett signing a contract extension

  • It’s great news for us. Niall is a great technician at the set-piece. He’s a very intelligent guy, he’s got excellent skills and a fantastic work rate.
  • He’s been an integral part of the club for several years and he’s very positive about what we are trying to achieve and it’s great that he wants to stay and be part of that.

On Cavaliers’ Premiership Rugby Shield win against Wasps A on Monday

  • The lads did splendidly and it shows the depth we have in the squad.
  • Competition for places is healthy because it drives the development of players and it drives performance.
  • What pleased me and impressed me is that while things went swimmingly in attack we were physical in defence and we defended well throughout.

On Ethan Waller’s red card at Dragons

  • Ethan’s disciplinary hearing is in London on Wednesday morning. It’s now part of a disciplinary process and it would be inappropriate to comment further.

On Matt Sherratt’s appointment as Attack and Backs Coach for the 2020/21 season

  • Matt has a close connection with Worcester as he started his career here in the Academy.
  • He’s also close friends with our Academy Manager Mike Hall and Jonathan Thomas, who is joining us as Forwards Coach so that should be good for the synergy of the coaching team.
  • He’s got good experience with Bristol, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Wales. He was Wales Attack and Backs Coach in the Six Nations when Rob Howley was acting Head Coach while Warren Gatland was with the British and Irish Lions.
  • Matt has a good reputation as a coach, he’s a really good bloke and I am looking forward to working with him.

Injuries

  • Francois Venter is seeing a specialist today so that should give us a clearer picture of the extent of his ankle injury.
  • Niall Annett has a tear in a rotator cuff in a shoulder. It’s a grade one tear and he is likely to be out for between four and six weeks.
  • Matt Moulds has recovered from his deal leg and he will be available for selection this week.
  • Ryan Mills has trained this week having missed the Dragons match with a hamstring injury.
  • Ollie Lawrence’s ankle is still not quite right so we will have to assess that.
  • Marco played the first half for the Cavaliers on Monday. It will probably be too soon for him to play for the Cavaliers again at Gloucester on Saturday.

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