Press Conference Notes 31.05.22

Lead Rugby Consultant Steve Diamond spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Bath Rugby at Sixways.

Here’s what Steve had to say:

On the Premiership Rugby Cup win

  • We’ve had a couple of weeks to reflect on it now. It was a really enjoyable experience for the players, the supporters and the whole club.
  • We have quite a few players moving on at the end of the season so it’s good that they will leave with some happy memories.
  • In the game our scrum was under pressure and we were ill-disciplined but the God of Rugby was on our side. Although we drew the match 25-25 we won the cup because we scored three tries to their one which is no mean feat against London Irish.

How do you approach the Bath match?

  • This game, as much as the cup final, is important particularly for the players who are leaving at the end of the season.
  • Niall Annett and Ethan Waller, to name just a couple, have been here for a long time and the last home game of the season is always an emotional occasion.
  • We have a number of other players and coaches moving on and we’d like to send them on their way with a win.
  • We also owe Bath one from the game down there in January when Rory Sutherland was sent off after 75 seconds and they beat us narrowly.

Saturday is also Alan Solomons’ last match before he retires from coaching. Are you going to keep in contact with him?

  • I have known Alan for a long time when he was working for the IRB’s High Performance Department and I was coaching Russia. He also introduced me to Worcester earlier this season.
  • I’m sure that I will keep in contact with Alan as I have over the last 20 years. He’s a good guy, very knowledge and a good support mechanism not only for me but for other staff and players.
  • I hope that he does put his feet up when he gets back to his house in Northern Ireland but, knowing him as a I do, I can’t see that happening because he’s someone that can’t keep still for long.

Are you surprised that Bath have struggled this season?

  • If you look at their playing roster it’s filled with superstars.
  • I can only really speak about Worcester but clearly something has not clicked.

How much of a break will the players get before they come back for pre-season training?

  • They will get five weeks off but will have their individual training programmes to make sure that when they report back in mid-July that they are fit.
  • We will then have six weeks to get them right. We will play one pre-season match and then we go into the league.
  • We won’t be going on an overseas camp. The Brecon Beacons are not far away so we might see how the lads get on overnight at Andy Powell’s over there.

Have you completed your recruitment for next season?

  • Not quite. I’m still looking to sign a big lock. I am talking to one who is a Kiwi and who I hope will sign a contract shortly.
  • At the moment I don’t think we have a squad that can win the league next season. What I can say is that we will be highly competitive, if you are highly competitive home and away then you can start getting bonus points.
  • With the squad, if we can get a place in the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in the club’s history, that will be progress and it will be a big leap forward from winning the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Injuries

  • Ollie Lawrence will not be available against Bath. We’ve sent him to see arguably the top specialist in the world. He thinks he can treat the hamstring injury by rehabbing rather than surgery.
  • Owen Williams is fit to play but I’m not going to risk him. He’s a top drawer player who will repat the rewards from having a good pre-season.

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