Academy Forwards and Transition Coach Chris Morgan spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match at Exeter Chiefs (kick-off 3.00pm).
Here’s what Chris had to say:
On the competition so far
- It’s a competition that we want to do really well in.
- We’ve made a good start, winning both of our home games, and we have picked strong teams as well as given opportunities to youngsters. We’ve gone hard and come out with some good results.
- Some of those youngsters have since gone on to perform really well for us in the Gallagher Premiership, the likes of Alex Hearle, Harri Doel and Seb Atkinson.
- As a team we have a desire to attack and we have showed that in the competition so far but we showed against Gloucester at Sixways in December that we could also grit it out up front.
- Hopefully we can put in another good performance and do the same this weekend.
Does it seem like a long time since you played Gloucester?
- It does and there is a different sort of dynamic to the group now.
- We have a good group who have a lot of desire to get out on the pitch and play. We will see a lot of people this weekend who have not played as much as they would have liked recently and some people who are backing up good performances in the senior team.
- The desire of the players has been fantastic which has made it easy and also the fact that we had a good performance at the weekend means there’s a good atmosphere in the camp.
- But everyone wants to impress and keep the momentum going. It’s a chance for players to showcase themselves in front of a big crowd.
- We have put in two good performances and we now have the chance to back those up.
- If we could get through to the semi-finals and get a home semi-final that would be a real boost for the club.
- Winning silverware is what we all play for. You only have three chances to play for silverware each season and so every competition is precious.
Is there a feel-good factor around the club after the league win against Exeter last Saturday?
- You can’t under-estimate what a win does for you, particularly against a side like Exeter who are a top team and have been consistently for ten years.
- It’s a massive week for us to try to back that up. We know that Exeter will also want retribution and to right some wrongs from last week.
What do you make of the talent that is coming through from the Academy at the moment?
- I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the amount of talent herenof the desire those players have to play well in a Worcester shirt.
- That doesn’t just apply to the Senior Academy but to players we are looking to bring into the Senior Academy next season and through the pathway.
- The fact that players like Fin Smith, Alex Hearle and Seb Atkinson have been given opportunities in the Premiership shows to our young players that the senior coaches notice what they are doing and are not afraid to put them.
What difference has Steve Diamond made since he came in?
- Steve has been really good at driving the players and driving the coaching staff and allowing people to get on with what they are doing.
- It’s case of going out and coaching. Less is a bit more in some respects.
- We need to keep a simplified message in what we are doing and be consistent in those themes. Consistent in attack and consistent in defence, try to repeat until we get it right. Until we do that there’s no point trying to move on to other things.
Injuries
- Jamie Shillcock is back in training and we hope that he will be available this weekend.
- Sione Vailanu took a heavy blow to the head against Exeter and is now going through the return-to-play protocols.