Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Wasps (7.45pm).
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On the Gloucester match
- It was a disappointing afternoon. We started brightly but we lost Melani Nanai to red card after 17 minutes and that altered the complexion of the game
- We made seven line breaks but we only converted one and from two of those they scored at the other end so they were 14 point swings
- We also allowed them a little bit too much momentum which also gave us problems
- Until Melani went off there was very little in it and the sides looked pretty even. But playing for over 60 minutes with 14 men when you haven’t played for five months does make it very difficult.
How do you view the remaining eight matches in the 2019/20 season?
- It’s like having a pre-season. We have a new coaching staff who only came into the club at the start of July
- This period gives them the chance to work with and observe the whole squad and I think that will be of huge benefit as we build for the 2020/21 season.
On Wasps
- Of the games I watched on television over the weekend they looked the best of the sides. They played really well so this will be a great experience for our lads who go out there
- As I have said before the schedule is such that we will be rotating the squad. We have a six day turn-round for this match, then five days before we play Harlequins and four days before we go to Exeter
- But the schedule is the consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic. There is an appetite to complete the 2019/20 season and the benefit of that is that all of our young players are going to get opportunities to play. That is going to be hugely beneficial to us in the long term.
How strange was it playing behind closed doors?
- Fans are a very important part of the game, especially your home support so it almost completely negates home advantage
- It is very strange playing in front of empty stands. It’s not ideal but what’s the alternative? These are exceptional circumstances and we just have to get on with it.
On Rugby Against Racism
- Warriors, as a club and as a playing group, abhor racism in any form
- We are a diverse and inclusive group and, as a club, we fully support the Rugby Against Racism initiative and its aims
- Our support for Rugby Against Racism was demonstrated by the players wearing the campaign’s t-shirts before kick-off
- One of the core values of being a Warrior is respect which means understanding and embracing different cultures, views and beliefs and the way individuals choose to express them.
Injuries
- Kai Owen has a hamstring injury
- Callum Black has trained this week and is available for selection