PEOPLE who are now predicting the roof will fall in on Worcester Rugby Club after our first league defeat on Saturday are way off the mark.
It was very disappointing to lose to Moseley and the performance was the worst so far this season but I think we need to get things into perspective before we start Prophesising doom and gloom.
We have won our first 10 National One matches and at present still lead the table.
If someone had come up to me at the start of the season and said you would win your first 10 and lose the 11th I would have taken it. There are a few people panicking about the situation because of the history of the last two years but I cannot do anything about the past and I don't think it will have any bearing on rugby matches to come. There is no need to worry about things because we are in pole position. Yes we have some tough games but what we need is support from fans rather than any scepticism.
The players were tremendously disappointed with their display at Bournbrook and they have been put through some tough training sessions this week. The key is for them to show some pride against London Welsh on Saturday and bounce back from defeat.
It will be a tough game because the word is out there on the street now that Worcester can be beaten. They will think it is a good time to come to Sixways but I am just glad we are at home in front of our fans and able to put things right.
It was interesting to see the Birmingham & Solihull coach with John White, the Moseley coach, on Saturday. It looks to me as if people are getting together to pick our game. They are picking our calls and analysing everything we do. You'd like to think that they were doing this to everyone but teams are looking for us and trying to work us out. Moseley did a great job at the weekend to stop us from playing which means from now on we will have to change our tactics a little. That's not to say we are not going to let the ball do the work but we will just alter what type of ball and when we are going to give it. We can also play a more direct game if needs be. What I want is us to be flexible and have a variety to our game. We have good finishers in the side but we have to make sure they are given the ball at the right time.
Moseley got into us with their forward power and people will think that is the way to topple Worcester from now on. However, teams will be in for a shock if they think that is the key because we have as much toughness as any side out there.
Against London Welsh I will not be too concerned if we have not put a score on the board after 30 minutes as long as we get into them and show that toughness to keep it tight.
I am gutted about the defeat, lets make that clear but we have had a great week in training and I think we have the strength of mind and character which will shine through. The players have shown that this week but it is important that we transform that good work on the training pitch onto the bigger dancefloor.
I have made changes to the side to face the Welsh with Mathew Back, Nathan Carter and Ally McLean taking a rest. Ian Calder, Nick Broughton and Spencer Bromley come back into the team while hooker Andrew Lamerton is only rated 50-50 to make the game because of a knee injury. A decision will be made on Lamerton's fitness tomorrow and if he is not fit then Chris Hall will come in for his first Sixways start.
The boys know they let the club and it's supporters down on Saturday and they are determined to turn things around at the weekend. What they also need though is support and I hope to hear the fans' passion backing us all the way at our fortress.
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