Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today as the squad prepare for next week’s matches against Saracens and Sale.
Here’s what Solly had to say:
On the London Irish win
- It was important that we showed the mental resilience, having turned around a point down, to dominate the second half.
- We knew that we were on top and if we stuck to our task that we would break them down. We did that and we scored some really good tries in the second half.
On facing Saracens
- They are a fantastic team and they showed that with their performance against Leinster in the European Champions Cup on Saturday.
- They were without Owen Farrell, the best fly-half in the world, but Alex Goode stepped in had a a terrific game.
- They really showed their quality. Saturday’s performance was exceptional and I do hope that we get a Saracens v Exeter final.
How will you approach selection for the last two games of the season?
- It’s been a very hectic period since we resumed playing and for most of the time we have four or five day turnarounds between matches.
- Player safety considerations have largely dictated selection. We finish with two back-to-back games. We will worry about Saracens first and see how things look after that game.
How might the Government’s latest guidelines to restrict the spread of COVID-19 impact on the club?
- The pandemic has affected every area of our life, not just rugby or sport.
- But it’s a very fluid situation, things change very quickly and we hope that we will be able to welcome spectators back sooner rather than later.
- No one anticipated the impact that the pandemic would have. A lot of it is beyond our control but sporting bodies, including Premiership Rugby and the RFU, have approached the Government to discuss potential support and we will just have to see how that unfolds.
What has it been like playing matches behind closed doors?
- Everyone wants to play in front of crowd and we want to have spectators back as soon as it safe to do so.
- The TV coverage has been superb and I have watched a lot of rugby over this period but people want to be there to witness it live and we need spectators to generate an atmosphere.
- Having said that I think that the standard of rugby that has been played, whether that is the Champions Cup, European Challenge Cup or Gallagher Premiership, has been very high and that is a credit to everyone involved.
Would a delay in the return of Championship and National Leagues rugby have an impact on some of your younger players?
- We have very strong links with Championship and National Leagues clubs a lot of our players have gained significant benefit from playing senior rugby on dual registrations.
- Players will not get those opportunities if those clubs are not playing.
On reports linking Warriors with Southern Kings loose forward Bobby de Wee
- That is purely speculative. Obviously the Southern Kings have gone into liquidation and their players are now looking for other clubs.
How upset are you at the demise of Southern Kings?
- It’s heart-breaking because I coached them against the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and when they won the IRB Nations Cup in 2011.
- They had a vibrant and flourishing academy and some fantastic rugby-playing schools so it is very upsetting to see what has happened.
Injuries
- GJ van Velze has undergone surgery on a dislocated shoulder and will be out for three months.
- Will Butler will see a specialist later this month to decide whether he requires surgery on his ankle injury but he expects to be back playing again by mid-December.
- Graham Kitchener has a stress fracture of the foot and will be out for four weeks
- Joe Batley will be back in training on Friday and he should be available for selection next week
- Marco Mama has been training fully and is available for selection
- Sam Lewis has some floating bone in an elbow and probably won’t be available next Wednesday
- Francois Venter is still troubled by the hamstring injury he sustained at London Irish and next Wednesday is probably going to be too early for him.
- Perry Humphreys is back in training
- Tom Howe sustained a knee injury at London Irish and is unlikely to play in the next two matches