Head Coach Jonathan Thomas spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Bristol Bears at Sixways (kick-off 3.00pm).
Here’s what Jonathan had to say:
On the Premiership Rugby Cup
- It’s a competition that we value as a club. As a result of COVID-19 there has been no Premiership Shield for two seasons and the Cup was also cancelled last season. Young players need games and they didn’t get that last season.
- We were one of the clubs that were in favour of playing the Cup last season because we have a lot of talented young players and part of our vision is to give opportunities to our young homegrown players.
- This is a competition that allows us to do that and also to give game time to players who need some minutes after the opening bloc of Gallagher Premiership matches.
Are you likely to rotate your squad?
- First and foremost this is a game that we want to win and winning is an important part of our development. It’s our only game at home in November and we want to win in front of our own supporters.
- Our selection will be balanced with a strong spine to the team, giving guys who have been on the bench in the first bloc of Premiership games some game time and some of our young players opportunities.
- The Premiership as a competition is relentless and brutal. It’s the toughest competition in the world so going into the Premiership Cup and Europe gives you a different focus and gives opportunity for other players to play.
- We value all our players so we do not see this as a devalued competition at all.
Will you be recalling some of the players that you have out on loan?
- We’ve had around a dozen players out on loan at Championship or National Leagues clubs and that has been very beneficial for them.
- We do have a call-back on all players who go out on loan. At the start of each week we review each player who is on loan so it’s an on-going process.
- A number of players will come back this weekend because of the opportunities this competition presents for us.
What will be your selection policy for the European Challenge Cup matches next month?
- We have not made our mind up how we approach those competitions yet. We did have a plan in place for the first bloc of Premiership games but after two of those games we had a load of injuries to senior players which dictated a lot of players coming in and new combinations.
- We have a rough idea which way we want to go but, first and foremost, it’s about us being competitive and to earn respect with a never-say-die attitude.
- We will assess each week based on how we are performing, the injuries we have and the opportunities we want to give people.
- Those things will determine what our mindset will be to each competition but we want to be competitive in each of them.
What did the players and coaches do last week when you had no game?
- The players – apart from those who needed treatment for injuries – had a complete week off which is one of the two down-weeks they must have during the season.
- The coaching team caught up and did some planning and the players came back in on Monday in good spirits and with a real spring in their step. We’ve had two really good training days this week and we are looking forward to the game at the weekend.
- Individually and collectively each week we review the week, how we can tweak things and how we can make things better and last week was an opportunity for us to do this.
- There are a number of young guys – the likes of Alex Hearle, Jack Johnson, Will Butler and Tom Dodd – who have trained really hard for two months and had to be patient for opportunities . With no Premiership Shield it has been tough for them and they have had to be very patient so they are chomping at the bit and are really hungry to play this weekend.
Injuries
- Melani Nanai is back training but this weekend is probably too soon for him.
- Ollie Lawrence, Beck Cutting, Willi Heinz and Rory Sutherland should all be back either against Newcastle Falcons or Wasps.
- Owen Williams is making really good progress from his grade three hamstring tear and operation. He’s working hard with our medical team but he won’t play before January.
- Noah Heward suffered a significant ankle injury at Bristol and he will need surgery.
- Chris Ashton is unavailable for selection.