Lead Rugby Consultant Steve Diamond spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match against reigning champions Harlequins at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm).
Here’s what Steve had to say?
On the performance against Bristol Bears
- We won the first 20 minutes and the second half but had a little patch in the second quarter when we went off script. But apart from that it was good to get the win.
- In our de-brief on Monday I asked the players why they went for touch instead of goal in the second half which would have extended our lead and they said that the wind was too strong.
- So the game management was good and the bench made a difference when they came on.
- Seb Atkinson didn’t get on but he will get a good run this weekend.
Was there a spring everyone’s step on Monday?
- There was and the lads were also relieved. It’s difficult to build team spirit when you lose on a regular basis.
- I brought them down to earth though. One or two were walking around like they were playing for Barcelona. I had to remind them that we are more like Aston Villa at the moment.
On Harlequins
- From turnover ball they are very good.
- Last week in the second quarter we gave several penalties away. With Danny Care against us this week, if we do the same again, we will be under the sticks and not knowing what has happened.
You have spoken before about the reduction in the salary cap next season, what impact do you think that will have?
- It’s going to make the Premiership more competitive. The clubs that prosper are those that can recruit within the cap.
- We are not going to be playing Premiership Rugby Shield games again next season which means that clubs are going to operate with leaner squads.
- With an A League you have got to have a bigger squad and you are effectively having to manage two teams.
- You couldn’t do that with the reduction in the salary cap and so, for the time it is the right thing to do.
- Once the revenue streams for clubs recover and are bolstered then perhaps we can look at bringing the A League back.
What are you looking for in your recruitment of new players?
- The players we bring have to be better than anything we have got already.
- Ideally they will be players from England but if not then I will look at Georgia, Romania, South Africa, New Zealand because there are lots of players available because of the financial situation in rugby around the world.
- At the moment I have got a good contact working for us in South Africa and names of players are regularly being put to me.
- But I want to give the players that are here now the chance to prove that they are right people to be here.
Injuries
- Ted Hill trained today and we will make a decision on him later in the week.
- Kyle Hatherell won’t be fit to play this week.
- Willi Heinz should be back next week.
- Jamie Shillcock sustained an ankle injury against Bristol. We initially thought that it was more serious but he will still be out for a week or so.
On injuries in general
- Injuries don’t worry me. They are a short-term problem.
- Injuries are something that every club has to put up with. You always have knocks and bruises to deal with and you just have to get on with it.
- If someone misses out because of injury there is another young lad coming off the rank.
- You would like your best players to be on the pitch but that rarely happens.
- What I can say is that anyone that steps into the team at the moment is saying: pick me.