Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Northampton Saints at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm).
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On the importance of the supporters
- It’s perfectly understandable that the fans are frustrated because everyone wants to win.
- Last season we won a number of games – Leicester home and away, Saracens and Bath at home – with late scores, this season things haven’t quite gone our way.
- The lads are putting in a huge amount of effort. Anyone who watched the Bristol match at Ashton Gate would appreciate what an unbelievable performance to restrict a side that plays a possession-based game to one try, and that came from a tap penalty.
- We are so close and it’s important that our supporters stick with us through thick and thin.
- My message is: keep the faith, come to Sixways on Friday and support the boys. The supporters have a big part to play in helping to get the boys over the line.
- Having a big crowd behind the boys under the floodlights on Friday night is vital.
On the Leicester match
- Losing Anton Bresler midway through the first half and Graham Kitchener at half-time had a major impact on us and it affected our set piece in the second half.
- It meant that Ted Hill, who was carrying an injury, had to play the whole of the second half in the second row. We went from 60 per cent possession playing into the wind in the first half to 40 per cent possession with the wind at our backs in the second half.
- The margins at this level are so fine. We will get across the line, you cannot give up.
On the recent run of defeats
- We could have won any one of the last four games. If we had we would have been in a very different position.
- We have got to keep things in perspective, stay keep focused, keep working hard and be persistent.
- The commitment of the players is unbelievable. To put in 294 tackles at Bristol, then put in another big shift at Leicester six days later and then have another six day turn-round for Northampton requires a huge effort.
On the development of young players
- What has been a big positive is that our young players are getting the opportunity to get some valuable game time.
- It’s important that they are not just thrown in but that they develop in a balanced way and learn from playing alongside more experienced players.
- Ollie Lawrence has had either Ashley Beck, Francois Venter or Ryan Mills alongside him in the centre.
- Nick David played his first game on the wing with Chris Pennell at full-back, Kai Owen has had either
- Matt Moulds or Niall Annett alongside him in the scrum, Andrew Kitchener has played alongside either his brother or Anton Bresler in the second row and Ted Hill has been playing a back row alongside the likes of Marco Mama and Cornell du Preez.
- These youngsters are going to be so much better because of the experience they have gained playing first team rugby this season and learning from the senior players around them.
Injuries
- Anton Bresler failed a head injury assessment on Saturday and won’t be fit this weekend.
- Graham Kitchener also failed a head injury assessment at Leicester. He is going through the return-to-play protocols but I’m more optimistic about him for Northampton.
- Ted Hill should be fine to play against Northampton.
- Marco Mama suffered a foot injury against Leicester and will be out for between five and six weeks.
- Ashley Beck is still not 100 per cent right. With a blank weekend next week he should be fit to face Gloucester.
- Dean Hammond and Ed Fidow should both be back by the end of the month.
- Callum Black is back running and will hopefully be fit to return during the next block of Premiership matches.