Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Bristol Bears.
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On the Bath match
- It was really disappointing to lose. I thought we had done enough to win it.
- We had lapses of concentration at key moments but showed resilience to come back from conceding an early try to lead 13-10 at half-time.
- Early in the second half we gave away a penalty in that middle third of the pitch, they kicked to the corner, we had a lapse in our defensive system, they got in behind us, we got a yellow card and from the penalty they eventually scored.
- Ten minutes later when we were still down to seven in the pack they got another penalty which they kicked to the corner and although we went back up to 15 men they mauled their way over for another try.
- Those soft moments cost us.
On facing Bristol
- They are a good side and they had a good win at Northampton on Sunday.
- We have got to be on our mettle and what will be key is that we do not give away soft points.
- We will have to play really well to secure victory. In parts our performance against Bath was really good, it was the soft moments that let us down.
- The focus has to be on our performance. If we get our performance right we will get the right outcome.
Injuries
- Justin Clegg has started running again this week but he is not yet into full training.
- Dean Hammond and Ed Fidow should be ready to play around mid-March.
- Tom Howe is also tracking well and he should also be ready for the next block of Premiership matches.
- Ashley Beck missed the Bath match through illness but he is fully recovered.
- Francois Venter ruptured a thumb ligament against Bath and he will be out for between four and six weeks.
- Perry Humphreys has recovered from a hip injury and is available for selection.
- Jamie Shillcock has recovered from a thigh injury and is available for selection
- Duncan Weir and Cornell du Preez returned today from training with Scotland.
- Ted Hill didn’t train with England this week because of a slight niggle but he is fully recovered and he trained with us today.
- Niall Annett is fully recovered from his shoulder injury and he trained fully today.
On reports that the future of some players from Africa and Polynesia may be affected by an end to the Kolpak regulations when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union
- Not everyone is in the same boat. Some of those players have British passports, others have leave to remain and others are married to British women.
- It’s not something that is giving us too much concern. It might only affect two, at the most three players.
Will the decision to relegate Saracens mean greater rotation of the squad in the second half of the season?
- You have got to be fair in your selection. You would like to give youngsters the opportunity to play so that they gain experience but that selection has to be on merit.
- We have a number of injuries at the moment which gave Nick David and Scott van Breda opportunities against Bath.
- Ollie Lawrence has come into the side on merit this season and Ted Hill has started every Premiership match apart from one when he was away with England.
- The young bucks will get their opportunities but selection has to be fair and it has to be seen to be fair.
- Seeing young Worcester players coming through excites me no end.