14/10/04 - TV replays would have given us try

The officials' decision not to award us a try during our narrow defeat at Leeds Tykes ultimately cost us the game at Headingley.

Ben Daly's 27th minute effort looked good to most inside the ground but sadly the touch-judge did not agree.

It's not a whinge. I totally understand the reasons why we lost the game and we've worked exceptionally hard to address those this week.

What is interesting, however, is the fact that if it had been a televised game, we would have had a video replay and a try would have been awarded. How does that make it a level playing field?

Of course, human error has to come into it but, when we have the technology, why not use it for all Premiership games? Ultimately, we lost the game in Leeds by five points so, I feel, it's a fair point to raise.

Possession

Anyone watching the match will understand everybody's frustration around the club on Monday. We dominated possession and territory and were in the opposition's 22 for long periods during the game. The fact that we came away from those phases with no points on a number of occasions says it all.

Leeds went up the other end and came away with penalties while we couldn't keep the scoreboard ticking over like they did.

It is, of course, an education for the boys although it was a harsh lesson. We gave away silly penalties because we were over anxious while we spurned scoring chances because we were rushed and lacked composure.

The positive points, however, were that we created so many opportunities. We competed extremely well away from home, scored three tries and, at times, looked a real threat.

We should have had more but the boys are learning and the Headingley experience will serve them well. Composure is the key word here but that will come from the players. They were a little over enthusiastic at times against Leeds but I'd rather have that than no enthusiasm. Everybody can see the development and I go into Saturday's clash with Gloucester quietly confident.

We all know well enough just how good the Kingsholm side are. They are one of the top teams in Europe so it's a great test for us to see how far we've come in seven weeks of Premiership rugby. It's always an opportunity for us in these games, you cannot see it as anything else. I'm not sure Gloucester will quite see it as that as they come to Worcester for a derby match. It's a huge banana skin for them.

We are all really excited by the first Worcester-Gloucester Premiership derby. A sell-out crowd, a wonderful atmosphere and the chance to put one over on our lofty rivals from down the M5 -- what a cocktail that promises to be!

I spent a little bit of time there a few years ago so I know all about the culture in the club and it's certainly a match that our supporters are desperate for.

We'll have Ben Hinshelwood playing for us on Saturday and I'm delighted that he'll be available for us in our next Premiership match next month at London Irish. That day happens to clash with a Scotland international game against Australia, a fixture that was belatedly added to the calendar.

Important

It therefore falls outside of the International Rugby Board's Autumn window and means we do not have to release Ben. Therefore, we'll be keeping him here for what, after all, is an important game for us.

Matt Williams has asked us to release Ben but we are simply following the regulations and an order from Premier Rugby to play our strongest side. It's never an easy situation when it's club vs country but I remember last season when the Scotland coach insisted that Ben should travel with them against France despite the fact that he wasn't even going to be involved in the 22.

Ben could have played for Worcester that day when we had a really tough match in prospect at Exeter but Williams quoted regulations at us and kept one of our top players away so he could sit him in the stands. I remember that episode only too well and the problems it caused us.

Sometimes in sport, these things come back to bite you.