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Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Discussion started by A38 , 06 July, 2018 22:09
Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 06 July, 2018 22:09
[warriors.co.uk]


Here are the first Notes for the coming season:-

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the press this afternoon (6 July 2018) following today’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixture announcement.

Here’s what he had to say:

Pre-season
I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made. We’re into our third week now. Training has been ramped up every week.
We’re looking forward to our camp in Valencia, Spain on Sunday. It’ll be another tough week.
We always have the rugby balls out immediately. You’ve normally got one shot at your conditioning and that’s usually the opening six weeks of pre-season. After that you’re pretty much into playing.
When we return after the camp we’ll start moving that balance a bit more towards the rugby and after a couple of weeks we’ll be preparing for our pre-season games.
The players have been pretty good. They all received off-season programmes except those that were rehabbing.
What I’ve really been pleased about is the effort that’s been put in. The conditions are pretty warm and everyone is giving their all.

Spain
It’s important. We’ve got some new players and some new staff and it’s ideal for us to have a good, hard camp.
I think the lads will enjoy it but it’ll be a tough camp.
On the Wednesday they will be off and there will be an opportunity for bonding and there will be some team work on the Tuesday afternoon.

Injuries
Bryce Heem had a procedure on his quad last week which went well. He should be back for the start of the season.
Ben Te’o should also be back for the beginning of the season as he continues his recovery.

Farai Mudariki
Former Warrior James Percival (working in France) contacted me and said Farai’s a really good young player with potential. His opinion is highly-valued. It was off the back of that recommendation and then we obviously had a look at clips of him and Mefin Davies looked at his scrummaging and we were impressed.
He has a good background and went to a good rugby school down in South Africa.
He’s a lovely guy, knows Marco Mama and has already had a look around Sixways.
He plays his last Test of the summer for Zimbabwe this weekend and he’ll be coming over soon after.
We have to give him a fair opportunity. He hasn’t been exposed to the level of Premiership Rugby but James’ recommendation was so strong that anything could happen.

The background of a player
This is very important to me. I always want to look at the man before his competency.

Josh Adams
He’s a terrific player and I’m glad he got to play in Argentina. THAT try was some try!
He’s been given five weeks or so off and he’ll be back at the end of July. We look forward to welcoming him back.

Jack Singleton
I’m delighted he got selected, it was just a shame he didn’t get a Test. He did splendidly in the Barbarians game.
He’ll also join us at the end of the month and both he and Josh will get a pre-season when they get back.

Joe Taufete’e
He’s a terrific person and rugby player.
His family are all settled in Worcester and that’s going to help lots.
He’s in good shape and he joins us for the camp in Spain. We’ll bleed him in.
These players need proper time off and a proper pre-season.

Matti Williams
Loose forward is an attritional position and it’s an opportunity for Matti and to see how he tracks.
He is versatile and the ability to play hooker is useful but this is a chance to play what’s probably his preferred position (flanker).

Justin Clegg
He’s been studying and hasn’t had the opportunity to be in a full-time professional environment yet.
This will be his first season full-time, he’s excited and I think he’ll be a really good player.

Zac Xiourouppa
He’s been unlucky with injuries in recent seasons.
He has potential and at the moment he’s out playing in New Zealand with Nick Rigby (Academy prop).
Hopefully he comes through unscathed and he can enjoy a season without injury.
It’s a great opportunity for him out there in Wellington and he should be back in August.

Ollie Lawrence and Ted Hill
The integration with the Academy is absolutely critical to building a top-six sustainable club.
Ollie is coming to camp this week and Ted Hill will also be coming.
Ollie is likely to get more first-team exposure next season. Centre is an attritional position and there are a lot of games and with all the competitions, all the lads are going to be playing.
I think the biggest thing Ollie learned on England duty this summer was what it takes to be a professional. Ben Te’o said he handled himself really well.
Ollie is a good young boy and a fine rugby player.

Luke Baldwin

He is back and enjoying training. He is a livewire and a great bloke to have in the squad.

Jono Lance
Due to come back at start of August when Super Rugby has finished.

Premiership fixtures
There’s no easy game and we know that.
We know we have to give it our best and our season is about consistent performances week in week out and our pre-season is important to that.
It’s nice to start at home and I’m sure it’ll be a great test.
We want a good start. It’s the consistency that was lacking and that’s our big focus and everything else will flow from there.

Birmingham Moseley partnership
We are talking to Birmingham Moseley about a possible practice match in late August.
I speak closely with former Warriors coach Simon Cross and we’re looking to arrange something.
We’ve got some of their lads training with us – Lewis Bean (lock) and James Williams (fly-half) and they will keep training with us before they go back to Moseley.
We might see them play for Worcester Cavaliers this season.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 22/07/2019 15:17 by Powick Eastander.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Brummagem Bertie 07 July, 2018 11:14
Some interesting snippets in there.

Good to see that we are making use of our ex-players in spotting talent. In similar vein, it's good to see that we seemed to part with Simon Cross on good enough terms that we look like we might establish a good relationship with Mose that will benefit both our clubs.

Pleased also to see how they are exposing the likes of Ollie and Ted to the fist team environment and the positive feedback Ollie has had from his England training camp.

It will be interesting to see how young Clegg goes now he's full time and how much he can kick on. He has a chance this season to catch up with or even leapfrog Kitch.

Finally, pleased to see good news so far on the injury front.



Whatever you do, do it safely!

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
TeflonTed 07 July, 2018 15:00
I think we should rename July as “Optimism Month”.

I recall last year we were mostly positive, and discussing whether “comfortable mid table” was an achievable target than the more realistic “safe 8th/9th”.

Well, we all learned the error of our ways didn’t we.

All the indicators are that this season the changes in management, along with excellent recruitment, make this discussion worthy of repeat.

The caution being, as others have mentioned, that we are not the only premiership club taking positive actions over the pre-season.

My belief is that Bristol won’t settle as quickly as they’d like, despite impressive recruitment, and that both Quins and Saints have difficulties that will take some time to turn around.

My pre-season feeling is that we’re looking at 8th best, 9th most likely, 10th a disappointment.

Diarised!, I’ll remind myself, and either gloat or keep schtum as appropriate.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
usa warrior 08 July, 2018 07:48
That sounds a pretty fair assessment Ted.

As with Quins last year though, there's often a team who underperforms quite significantly. Interesting to see if that hits someone who should be mid-table or above.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
TeflonTed 08 July, 2018 09:40
My sleeper for a surprise slump would be Bath.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
BrumBrum 08 July, 2018 09:56
Always hard to predict & like/laugh at the idea of 'July as optimistic month' - too true.
It was about this time last year we started hearing about injuries, both long & short. With the short always becoming longer & more serious.
We also started to get snippets that all was not well behind the scenes.
Doesn't seem to be the case this year....yet.

As implied above, as we develop & improve so do others.
Think Bristol could do better than most assume. Not due to the money spent & players recruited, but due to a certain Mr Lam who seems to get extraordinarily performances out of ordinary players in short time periods. Think back to BaaBaas & England.
The key improvement this year should be in 10, Weir is good as is Lance. If we have Hooguard fit & firing, we will do well.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Wolftownwarrior 08 July, 2018 23:41
Quote:
TeflonTed

I recall last year we were mostly positive, and discussing whether “comfortable mid table” was an achievable target than the more realistic “safe 8th/9th”.

But this season we have two really good 10’s for the first time in a long time!

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Fiver 09 July, 2018 07:49
Quote:
Wolftownwarrior
Quote:
TeflonTed

I recall last year we were mostly positive, and discussing whether “comfortable mid table” was an achievable target than the more realistic “safe 8th/9th”.

But this season we have two really good 10’s for the first time in a long time!

I'm struggling to think of when we last had 2 really good 10s.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Faithful_City 09 July, 2018 10:20
Brown and Drahm, maybe?

JP

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Patgadd 09 July, 2018 11:22
Don't forget Jamie; we have three good 10s.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
usa warrior 09 July, 2018 11:27
And Mills at a push.

Not doing badly there.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Brummagem Bertie 09 July, 2018 16:27
Quote:
Faithful_City
Brown and Drahm, maybe?
JP

That's only one really good 10, JP, and James Brown.



Whatever you do, do it safely!

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Sheldon 10 July, 2018 13:07
In my view we have only ever had two good tens. Drahm and Goode. I think the two we have now are marginally better but fantastic to have both at the same time!

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
shrewsburyman 11 July, 2018 17:16
Yes Sheldon up to now those were our only two number 10’s

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 07 August, 2018 20:58
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday night’s pre-season clash with Benetton Rugby at Stadio di Monigo (kick-off 8.30pm local, 7.30pm BST).

Here’s what he had to say:

Benetton/team news
We’ll take 28 players to Italy and the aim is to get them all playing 40 minutes of rugby.
Benetton are a good, physical side.
The match will give us an idea of where we are.
Ben Te’o, Josh Adams and Jack Singleton won’t be involved.
Bryce Heem, Ethan Waller and Wynand Olivier are recovering well from operations and should hopefully be back for the start of the season.

Jono Lance
He only finished the Super Rugby season in July so he needed a couple of weeks off after that as he went there straight from his spell here at Sixways.
We are working with him separately now after he arrived at the start of August and getting him up to speed.
He will be integrated into the squad gradually and it’s a similar situation with the likes of Josh Adams and Jack Singleton who have been away this summer on international duty.
Jono is a very useful player who can play at 10, 12 and 15 – having played at 15 for some of the recent Super Rugby campaign.

Hartpury pre-season clash
We will hopefully look at Josh Adams and Jack Singleton for that match.

Birmingham Moseley potential fixture
I am in talks with Simon Cross at Moseley and we are hopeful of a game in a couple of weeks’ time.

The first block of Premiership games
The first block will allow opportunities for all fit players to show what they can do.
We have six Premiership games while there are four Premiership Rugby Shield games so there will be plenty of opportunities.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2018 21:00 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 28 August, 2018 17:29
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s first Gallagher Premiership match of the season at Sixways against Wasps (kick-off 3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Pre-season
It’s been a long one but this is what we’ve been working towards.
It was important to get everyone that was fit some game-time and there’ll be more opportunities in coming weeks with Warriors and Cavaliers matches.

Wasps
They will be a big challenge. Every game this season in the Premiership will be a massive challenge.
There are no easy Saturday afternoons.
Wasps are a good side with some talented individuals so we know they’ll be a tough side to beat.
They have some players missing but they have plenty of strength in depth.
It’s important for us to focus on consistency of performance and the results will take care of themselves if we get the performance right.

Injury news
Isaac Miller is out with a fractured collarbone.
Scott van Breda has a shoulder problem and will be missing for a few weeks.
Jamie Shillcock had a knock to his knee so he’ll be out for a couple of weeks.
Ethan Waller is not far away from a return.
Bryce Heem is back in training.
Will Butler has had an operation on his elbow and is expected back around December time.

Starting at home
Starting at home is good for all involved – the players, staff and supporters.
It’s important to get off to a good start.
We have a heavy block of six Premiership games to get started and the competition will be fierce.

Scott van Breda
He has played all across the backline and he’s a good kicker both from the tee and from hand.

Jamie Shillcock
He will challenge for the ten jersey but he has the ability to play at 15. It’s good to have that versatility.

Goal-kicking
We have five players who can kick including all our fly-halves and both Chris Pennell and Scott van Breda.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 28/08/2018 17:31 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 05 September, 2018 17:23
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match at the AJ Bell Stadium against Sale Sharks (kick-off 3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Wasps reaction
I’m disappointed we didn’t win but it was a good performance. We had opportunities and we didn’t take them.
The penalty count was very high. We have taken matters through the correct channels having watched the film and it is going through the process.
It was a positive performance against a top-three side who are always in the play-offs.
Duncan Weir kicked well and was unlucky not to seal it at the end with the drop-goal attempt.

Worcester Cavaliers reaction
Our pack did a splendid job on Monday night and dominated the set-piece. We could and should’ve won that game.
Availability was difficult in the backs. Alex Hearle and Nick David weren’t available but it was pleasing with the comeback at death to get two bonus points against Newcastle.

Cornell du Preez
We will have a clear prognosis on Cornell by the end of the week. He has had to have surgery.
It’s a shame as he was looking good but it was a freak accident. Dan Robson made a good tackle, Cornell fell to the ground and Joe Launchbury fell and his knee struck Cornell in the throat unfortunately.
The doctor was on hand and Cornell was then taken to hospital.
The medical staff have been excellent and the Club’s support has been excellent.
He is in hospital in Birmingham having further surgery and we will await a report from the specialist/surgeon.

Injury news
Anton Bresler’s groin wasn’t 100 per cent before the game last weekend and you can’t play in the Premiership unless you are fully fit. Fortunately Andrew Kitchener stepped up while Pierce Phillips did a good job too.
Carl Kirwan is nearing a comeback. It’s been great to see him back training.
It was also great to see Zac Xiourouppa play on Monday as both have been out for a while.
Marco Mama is looking good and back in practice this week.
Jack Singleton has a neck issue but we will assess him later this week. We are fortunate that we have Niall Annett and Joe Taufete’e who played well last week.
Bryce Heem was outstanding especially after having not played for a while. He had a bit of cramp but he is okay.

Sale preview
Sale will present a different challenge. They have a strong home record.
It didn’t work out last weekend for them against Harlequins so they’ll be up for it.
We will have to look at our squad carefully off the back of the weekend and there could be a couple of changes but we will assess some players later this week.
They’ll be smarting after last week.
We have strength in depth in the loose forwards and those that step up must take their opportunities.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2018 17:25 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 12 September, 2018 17:13
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Sixways against Newcastle Falcons (kick-off 3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Sale Sharks and Wasps reaction
We haven’t got the results we’d have liked to and the result we should have got against Wasps.
Our first-half execution wasn’t good against Sale but we showed great resilience and had an opportunity to win that game at the end.
It was a game of two halves. Our problem in the first-half was that we made too many errors which saw us buried in our half.
The intensity comes from the way you train. The focus is on being more clinical and you have to make sure ball security is good.
The margins at this level are very fine. We’ve landed just on the wrong side a couple of times. If we are more clinical we will end up on the right side, we just have to finish opportunities.

Newcastle Falcons
They have had a lot of stability and continuity with the same core players and coaches over a period of time and that makes a huge difference.
You can see the benefit and they fully deserved their top-four finish last year.
This is a big block of six games and we’ll take it one game at a time.
Our focus is on getting performance right and limiting our opponents’ chances.

Team and selection news
We are optimistic that Francois Hougaard will be available but we’ll make a decision later in the week.
Jonny Arr is an experienced player and Michael Heaney played well when he came on against Sale so we have competition.
Cornell du Preez is still in Birmingham with his partner getting support and we are waiting to hear from the surgeon whether further surgery is needed.
The support has been great but it’s been tough for him. We are hoping the next report is positive and he turns a corner.
Ben Te’o is back in training and took part today. He is not quite ready yet though.
Jack Singleton is back into it and is pretty close to playing after a neck issue.
Ethan Waller (shoulder) is not far off as is Anton Bresler (groin). They should be returning over the next couple of weeks.
Wynand Olivier – He’s been to see a specialist. We are pretty positive he will return shortly.

Cavaliers’ win over Leicester Tigers
Carl Kirwan is over the moon after coming through 40 minutes unscathed. He had a tough time out but now he needs game-time.
The lads played well on Monday, in particular Ted Hill, the front row including Farai Mudariki off the bench and Gareth Milasinovich. It was good to see and for them to get the bonus-point win away.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2018 17:15 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 19 September, 2018 19:20
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Welford Road against Leicester Tigers (kick-off 3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Newcastle Falcons reaction
We have to manage key moments correctly and take opportunities when they come.
We have intelligent players and lessons will have been absorbed and learnt but you have to finish the opportunities you create.
It was frustrating but those margins are fine. If we do the little things right we will end up on the right side.
It’s about learning lessons and accuracy is important in those conditions.
All the lads are good ball players but concentration and focus has to be there all the time.
The lineout is a collective effort and five things have to go right for it to work. Rory Duncan has done a great job with them. We came unstuck last weekend but it was very good in the first two games.

Leicester preparation
It’s been a good week with good energy in training.
Tigers will be a fantastic challenge. They are one of the oldest clubs around and Welford Road is a famous old ground.
We’ll have to play well to get the opportunity to win again. It’s about us performing to the best of our ability.
To come away with points it must be nothing less than a top-drawer performance.
They’ve picked up since the first game and it could’ve gone either way against Wasps and that was with 14 men.
They have a solid pack of forwards and plenty of experience in Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and David Denton.
With George Ford and Ben Youngs in the half-backs, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May and Telusa Veainu, they clearly have lots of threats.
My approach is that we have to perform to the best of our ability. We must make good decisions and be accurate in execution in key moments.

Team news/injury news
We have a few bumps and bruises but we will see where we are later in the week.
Bryce Heem has been rested early this week but we are quietly optimistic that he will be fit.
Niall Annett is not 100 per cent due to an ear infection.
Ben Te’o is on the way back and has taken full part in sessions. He is fairly close to returning.
Nick Schonert is fine and fit to play.
Ethan Waller is in full training and we shall assess him.
Wynand Olivier is not in full training yet but is not far off. The European games may be when he returns.
Scott van Breda is making progress but needs to get his strength back. He has a test on Friday.
Perry Humphreys is fine after a hamstring problem.
Matti Williams is back in full training after a back issue.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 26 September, 2018 19:37
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Sandy Park against Exeter Chiefs (kick-off 3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Leicester Tigers performance
We started on the front foot and we were clinical for 60 minutes which was good to see.
You have to arrest momentum swing and what we did at the death was excellent. We showed first-class resilience to put pressure on them, secure ball from the lineout, go through the phases and score.
We need to understand what can turn the tide and by sticking to task we can get rewards.
This victory was better than last year’s in my opinion as we had to score rather than hold on.
It was important as it generates confidence.

Ted Hill’s Premiership debut and Academy players
It’s important to build the Club through the Academy. It’s fantastic seeing the likes of Ted Hill, Will Butler, Andrew Kitchener, Ollie Lawrence and Justin Clegg having stepped up in recent months.
With Ted taking his opportunity in the Premiership, it’s a boost to other youngsters seeing that, and also that Ted is showing he belongs there.
It is a testament to the Academy staff and the work they have done.
There is complete integration of the Academy players with the first-team both on the practice field and in matches.

Exeter Chiefs preview
Exeter will be a massive challenge. They and Saracens are above all other teams.
They have good players, they are well-prepared and well-coached.
They have had stability and continuity over a long period and those same staff and players for a period of time have made a huge difference and they are reaping the rewards.
We have always believed we can compete against anyone. But we have to perform to the best of our ability to get a result.

Team/injury news
We have a few knocks and if people are not 100 per cent they won’t be risked.
Sam Lewis (hip) we will have to look at.
Pierce Phillips picked up a dislocated thumb at Leicester.
Nick Schonert (dead leg) will be assessed closer to the time.
Ben Te’o has a calf knock. It’s not major but he hasn’t trained with England this week and is not available for selection this weekend.
Ethan Waller fell on his hip in Monday’s Cavaliers game and won’t be considered for this weekend.
Wynand Olivier is getting closer to returning – whether it’s the Premiership Rugby Shield match against Wasps on Monday or the next weekend. We are being conservative with him.

Ollie Lawrence
Ollie Lawrence has done well and has been great for the Cavaliers. He’s certainly in consideration for selection.
He was a terrific player last year when at school! He’s a real talent.
Ollie needs experience and run-outs. He learnt a lot at Treviso and against Hartpury and training in the national set-up was a big help. The energy these youngsters bring like Ollie and Ted is remarkable.

Worcester Cavaliers
We have played really well in the Premiership Rugby Shield.
Luke Scully and Farai Mudariki have done really well, and everyone played well on Monday.
It’s great to have another win under our belts.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 03 October, 2018 17:51
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Bristol Bears at Sixways Stadium (3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Exeter Chiefs
At 21-3 down we showed terrific resolve and resilience and kept them try-less in the second half until the 73rd minute when we were down to 14 men.
Exeter are a power side and there are lessons to be learned but we were pleased with a ot of aspects of our game.

Bristol Bears
Anyone who has watched Bristol in the Championship and their five Premiership matches knows how good they are.
Bristol have prepared well in the Championship. They
have had the same team, the same systems and coaching staff and they have brought in some big players.
They are a possession-based team who are going to keep the ball.
The crowd have a big role to play. We are anticipating a big crowd and our supporters mean a lot to us.
It’s a two-way street. We have to give the crowd something to cheer about.

European Rugby
The lads who have played week in, week out for us will be given a rest after the Gallagher Premiership block.
We have genuine competition for places. That is healthy and the players who play in Europe will compete.
The European matches will give an opportunity for guys who have not been involved as much to put their hands up and show they should be considered.
Rory Duncan will oversee the team in the European Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
w4rriorz1980 03 October, 2018 18:10
No mention of the recent takeover.
Which is a good thing.Solomons and co should stick to the rugby side.



Eats,Shoots And Leaves

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Powick Eastander 04 October, 2018 07:23
Think you need to read that again..

[quote]Press Conference Notes
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Bristol Bears at Sixways Stadium (3pm).

Here’s what he had to say:

Exeter Chiefs

At 21-3 down we showed terrific resolve and resilience and kept them try-less in the second-half until the 73rd minute when we were down to 14 men.
Exeter are a power side and there are lessons to be learned but we were pleased with a lot of aspects of our game.

Bristol Bears

Anyone who has watched Bristol in the Championship and their five Premiership matches knows how good they are.
Bristol have prepared well in the Championship. They have had the same team, the same systems and the same coaching staff and they have brought in some big players.
They are a possession-based team who are going to keep the ball.
The crowd have a big role to play. We are anticipating a big crowd and our supporters mean a lot to us.
It’s a two-way street. We have to give the crowd something to cheer about.

European Rugby

The lads who have played week in, week out for us will be given a rest after the Gallagher Premiership block.
We have genuine competition for places. That is healthy and the players who play in Europe will compete.
The European matches will give an opportunity for guys who have not been involved as much to put their hands up and show they should be considered.
Rory Duncan will oversee the team in the European Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Injury News

Josh Adams has trained and is looking good.
Sam Lewis is fully fit.
Duncan Weir is fully fit.
Ethan Waller is back in training again.
Ben Te’o is still struggling a little bit with a calf injury and hasn’t taken part in training this week.
Wynand Olivier is close to playing again.
Cornell du Preez is still in hospital and will be there for another two or three weeks. But he is improving. Everyone has been very supportive.
Jamie Shillcock should be ready for our trip to Paris next week.
Scott van Breda took part in training earlier this week and really enjoyed it. He probably won’t be fit for the first European Challenge Cup match.

New owners

I have met with Jed McCrory and he seems to be a good bloke. He wants to do good things with the Club so it’s positive.
We always get on with our jobs and don’t worry about the things we don’t control but it’s positive for the Club that the sale has now gone through.



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Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Sheldon 11 October, 2018 12:13
Are we having one this week. They are a really good source of information on the playing side.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 11 October, 2018 20:37
[warriors.co.uk]


Warriors Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s European Challenge Cup match against Stade Francais at the Stade Jean Bouin (kick-off 8pm BST).

Here’s what Rory had to say:

On the Bristol win:

The club as a whole is in a good space and we are hoping to carry that positivity into Europe.
The win was an 80 minutes’ performance and showed what the guys were capable of.


On Stade Francais:

They are second in the Top 14 and an extremely physical team with some big players. They play a momentum game coupled with an intelligent kicking game.
We have done our homework and prepared as best we can. It will be tough but we will be going out there to give it our best shot.
Looking to keep momentum going forward. Important part is to focus on one or two areas we have been good in and build on that.


Injuries:

Ben Te’o not available for selection this weekend.
Wynand Olivier is fit and will be in the squad.
Ethan Waller is also available for selection
Carl Kirwan is not available this weekend and his rehabilitation and treatment is on-going.
Luke Baldwin is available for selection.


Rory’s own role

Looking forward to leading the coaching team in Europe. But Alan Solomons and rest of coaching team will be there so not a lot will change.
But it will be something fresh and exciting after six weeks of Gallagher Premiership and there will be some new faces in Saturday’s squad.
Rory and his wife have settled well in the area.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 16 October, 2018 16:46
Warriors Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s European Challenge Cup match against Ospreys at Sixways (kick-off 3pm).

Here’s what Rory had to say:

On the Stade Francais win
A great way to start the European campaign. Delighted with the efforts of the players and to start with five points away from home.
Impressed with the attitude of the players and how they managed the game.
A number of players were hungry for their opportunity and we now have some good selection headaches.
A special game for all involved. There was a great feeling in the camp which has carried through to this week.

On Ospreys
We know what task lies ahead of us this week. It would be great to back up last week’s performance.
Players have worked hard this week and are in the right frame of mind.
Expecting Ospreys to put out a strong side. They play with a bit of tempo, they have great line speed and they are a territorial team side.
They have done better in the Pro-14 so far this season than they did last season so it’s going to be a tough game.

Selection
All the players will be in this week. Squad to be finalised later in the week but a lot of the players who played in Paris will get another opportunity.
There is competition for positions which should bring out the best in the players.
Injuries

Ashley Beck: He broke a leg in Paris. It’s extremely unfortunate and we wish him all the best.
Ashley is seeing a specialist this week to establish the extent of his injury.

Ben Te’o: Has trained this week and at this moment in time he is available for selection on Saturday.

Alafoti Faosiliva: Recovering from a calf injury but close to fitness.

Josh Adams’ Wales selection
Delighted for Josh. He works extremely hard and, from a coach’s perspective, he’s a nice guy to work with.

Kai Owen’s debut in Paris
Kai has one of the best work ethics in the team and he trained hard in pre-season.
It was a great opportunity for him in Paris. He held his position in the scrum against some fair-sized props and got the penalty in the last scrum.
He’s progressed in last four months and is a player for the future.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Brummagem Bertie 16 October, 2018 18:24
Glad to see that Kai Owen was mentioned and that he stepped up, took his chance, and backed up his form for the Cavs.



Whatever you do, do it safely!

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 23 October, 2018 17:05
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Friday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Sale Sharks at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm).

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On our first two matches in European Challenge Cup
A good performance by a young side against Stade Francais who had virtually their full starting XV out for the second half.
We didn’t play quite so well against Ospreys but the real positive was that we won.
The two matches have been a good test of our strength in depth.

On the Premiership Rugby Cup
We rested players who had played in the majority of the block of six Premiership matches. Those players are now back and will be given game time over the next couple of weeks.
It’s almost three weeks since the Bristol match so they need to play before we return to Premiership action.
Every club will have their own strategy for this competition. We operate a rotation system which allows us to give players rest as well as opportunities.

On selection of Ted Hill, Ben Te’o and Nick Schonert in England’s training squad
Fantastic to see three players from the club recognised. The more players involved the better.
Great to see Ted Hill included. Ollie Lawrence also trained with England last season which reflects well on the club’s Academy system.
We’ve got an excellent crop of youngsters at the moment. A vibrant, flourishing academy is key to us moving forward.

Injuries
Ashley Beck: Ashley broke a leg in Paris and there is also ligament damage which means he will be out for six months.
Jono Lance: Jono is seeing a specialist on Wednesday about a back injury.
Carl Kirwan: Carl is recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to be playing again by the time we resume our European campaign in early December.

On the new structured season announced by the RFU
Not had a chance to study the agreement in detail but Alan is in favour of ensuring players are properly looked after.
We have just done that by resting players after the first six rounds of Premiership matches. We try to manage our squad well through rotation.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 23/10/2018 17:07 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 30 October, 2018 16:28

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 30 October, 2018 16:28
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road (kick-off 3.00pm).

Here’s what Alan had to say:

Last Friday’s win over Sale
A lot of the players hadn’t played for three weeks. It was a competitive game and for a first hit out it was pretty good.
From an all-round perspective he was happy with the performance.

Looking ahead to Leicester
Leicester at Welford Road are always a tough proposition and we are anticipating a tough game.
We had a tough game there in September. They came back strongly but what was great is that right at the death Ted Hill got the try in the corner.
There has been good resolve, resilience and character throughout the season so far.

Injuries
Jono Lance: Has partial stress fracture of the back. He had a similar injury when he was younger from playing cricket. It’s a matter of time before it heals. He will have another scan after six weeks.
Ashley Beck: Has had surgery on his broken leg and he is now on crutches. The specialist is satisfied with the operation but it’s a six month injury.
Chris Pennell: Available for selection this week.
Ryan Mills: Not yet available for selection.
Marco Mama: Not yet available for selection.
Farai Mudariki: Took a blow to the neck against Sale and not available this week.
Anton Bresler: Has passed the concussion protocols and is available this week.
Cornell du Preez: Has been discharged from hospital. Should know by the end of the year what the prognosis is.

Competing on all fronts
We did reasonably well with our recruitment and we felt that we had sufficient depth to compete in all competitions which is what we are trying to do.
Our vision is centred around the academy. Our senior academy players are totally integrated with the senior squad and Gordon Ross and Chim Gale, our academy coaches, are integrated into the coaching system, so it’s seamless.

Michael Fatialofa’s arrival
Michael will arrive in England late on Thursday and is due to meet the squad on Friday.
He had a knee operation after the Super Rugby season but played for Auckland in their Mitre 10 Cup final victory last Saturday. Not yet decided when he will make his Warriors debut.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 30/10/2018 16:30 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 07 November, 2018 17:02
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match at Saracens.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the win at Leicester
A game of two halves. We scored some very good tries in the first half gave away too many penalties and turned over too much ball in the second half which we meant we spent the bulk of that half in defence. We made 202 tackles in the match.
Leicester were missing a lot of their leading players but they are a very good club and it was a tough game.

On Sunday’s match at Saracens
With a six day turnaround before the Bath match in the Gallagher Premiership it’s an opportunity to give players opportunity.
There is strong competition for places at the moment and every time a player gets the opportunity to represent Warriors in whatever the completion it’s the chance for them to put their hand up to be part of the Premiership team.
The side will be coached by Gordon Ross and Mike Hill and managed by Chim Gale. It’s a good opportunity to aid their development as well as that of the players.

International call-ups
Duncan Weir is in the Scotland squad. He’s played very well for us since he joined from Edinburgh.
Nick Schonert is back at the club having been named in England’s 35-man squad for Saturday’s international against New Zealand. Nick is having a terrific season. He’s an international class player and sooner or later he will be given an opportunity by England.

Injuries
Farai Mudariki: Now recovered from the blow to his neck and he’s available for selection this weekend.
Will Butler: Has been integrated back into training but not quite ready for selection.
Pierce Phillips: Probably won’t be considered for selection this week and will benefit from the extra time to fully recover from his injuries.
Ollie Lawrence: Hasn’t trained this week and will not be considered for selection this week.
Justin Clegg: Came on as a replacement against Stade Francais but has a stress fracture of the back.
Ryan Mills: Making good progress and will be fully integrated into training this week.

Michael Fatialofa’s arrival at the club
Michael is settling in well. He’s been working with the conditioning staff this week and he will be integrated into training next week.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 13 November, 2018 17:26
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Bath.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On inclusion of Ted Hill, Nick Schonert and Ben Te’o in England’s squad for Saturday’s Quilter International against Japan
It’s fantastic to see our players get recognition.
Ted was invited to the recent training camp in Portugal because he’s a terrific young player and he will adjust and adapt if he is picked to play on Saturday.
Nick is a terrific scrummager but he has worked very hard on his all round game.

Looking back at Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match at Saracens
We put a young side out but the young players did well and came away with a bonus point which could have been two. They showed good resolve and resilience.
Players like James Scott, Beck Cutting and Nick David got game time and acquitted themselves well.
It was good to see a lot of the other players down at Saracens supporting the team.

Looking ahead to Bath
Bath are a tough team to beat at home so expecting a hard game.
Like all clubs, when you are playing at home they won’t want anyone to lower their colours.

On the strength of the Premiership this season
Chatting to other Directors of Rugby who have been around a long time, they say it’s the toughest Premiership they have ever been involved in. Every team has good quality players, they are well coached and well prepared.

Michael Fatialofa’s availability
Michael had a heavy programme in New Zealand coming straight from a Super Rugby season into the Mitre 10 Cup.
We have got to be patient and we are not putting him under any pressure to play.

Injuries
Ryan Bower: Has torn an Achilles tendon and he is likely to be out for the rest of the season.
Zac Xiourouppa: Suffered an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury at Saracens and is out for the rest of the season.
Andrew Kitchener: Suffered concussion at Saracens and is going through the return-to-play protocol.
Marco Mama: Still struggling with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play at Bath.
Ryan Mills: Has trained this week and is available for selection this week.
Pierce Phillips: Fit and available for selection.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 13/11/2018 17:29 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 20 November, 2018 17:07
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Harlequins at Sixways.

Here’s what Alan had to say….

On last weekend at Bath
Our set piece – the lineout in particular – didn’t function. We have analysed it and we believe that we have sorted out the problems we had.
Rory Duncan has come up with some solutions and confident that things will be fining going forward.

Harlequins this week
Paul Gustard is a very good coach. He’s had good experience with Saracens and England and they are well into their season now.
They have changed the emphasis in the way they approach the game and have had a good season to date.

Ted Hill’s first England cap
Ted is a terrific young player and it’s understandable that Eddie Jones would want to give him that opportunity.
Ted will be better for the experience of working in the England camp and being involved in the match 23 against Japan.
He’s come through quickly but he’s deserved his chance and it’s a good call. We are looking forward to him coming back and playing a big role with us.
He’s very level-headed, a good man and an outstanding rugby player.

Ben Te’o’s England form
Ben has acquitted himself in the two matches he has played for England this autumn.
He had only played 30 minutes of rugby for us this season before he went into the Tests but he is a big, powerful man and he suits what Eddie Jones wants.
Injuries

Michael Fatialofa:
He has a clean out of a knee in New Zealand and he aggravated it playing for Auckland in the Mitre Cup. We want to make sure that he is 100 per cent right before we play him. Likely to feature in our European Challenge Cup matches.

Ollie Lawrence:
He is going to see a specialist on Wednesday. There seems to be some nerve damage in the leg he injured in the Premiership Rugby Cup match at Leicester.

Alafoti Faosiliva: He was a late call up to the bench at Saracens. He had a calf injury and is not 100 per cent.

Carl Kirwan: Should be ready to go for our European matches.

Will Butler: Now ready to play again and is likely to play for Hartpury this weekend.

........................................................................................................................

It seems that it will be a while before we see Fatialofa!

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 27 November, 2018 19:21
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Gloucester.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the Harlequins win
Rory Duncan and the forwards worked hard on the lineout after the defeat at Bath.
Omar Mouneimne is also a world class coach and the players deserve credit for putting in a huge defensive shift.

On the trip to Gloucester
They are a very good side, particularly at Kingsholm and it will be another tough game.
They have quality across the field and are well coached by Johan Ackermann.
Kingsholm, like Welford Road, is a traditional English club ground with strong home support.

Which players involved in the Autumn Internationals are likely to play?
Joe Taufete’e was concussed playing for USA against Ireland and is going through the return-to-play protocols and he won’t be ready this week.
Some of the other players will be back but others will be rested.

On Ted Hill’s performance against Harlequins
Matt Cox was deservedly man of the match. Ted was also pretty special.
Having spent time with England, who are a good international team, with a good coach in Eddie Jones, it can only have a positive effect on Ted.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 27/11/2018 19:22 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 05 December, 2018 16:57
[warriors.co.uk]


Warriors Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media ahead of Friday’s European Challenge Cup match against Pau.

Here’s what Rory had to say:

On the Gloucester defeat
They got away from us. They got on top of use physically and dominated in a number of the physical aspects of the game.

Chris Pennell’s two week suspension
We accept the outcome. Chris is an absolute gentleman.
There was no ill-intent but we accept they are trying to keep the game safe.

On the Pau match
It’s still early in the competition. Pau are a tough outfit. They have got some big guys in the pack and some big, strong ball carriers.
They are a well-supported club and they are a quality outfit.

Likely team selection
Expect some rotation from the guys that were playing at the weekend in the Gallagher Premiership. Some of them have played five games in six weeks which is a heavy workload.

Playing Pau in back-to-back matches
It makes the analysis and the reviews easier. I’ve not experienced back-to-back matches before.
Taking them on over there gives us an opportunity to look at them. We anticipate a certain style of game and we get to review that and see whether that is what we got.

New contracts for Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence
Alan Solomons is working very hard on recruitment and player retention. Excited to have the players of the calibre Ted and Ollie who have come through the Academy. The Academy is the future of the club.
Ted is a physical unit who has played a number of Premiership games for us and who hasn’t stepped back since he made his debut at Leicester. It’s just the tip of the iceberg because there is a lot more to come in terms of Ted’s potential.
Ollie had his first opportunity at Exeter and he has proved to be quite a threat from an attacking perspective. I believe he will be an international in the not too distant future. Very excited to have Ollie signed up.
The Academy coaches have done a fantastic job. It’s not just Ollie and Ted, we have got a number of exciting young players coming through.

Jack Cosgrove’s signing
Alan Solomons had the opportunity to work with Jack at Edinburgh. I’ve not worked with him before but I’ve been pretty impressed with him this week. He’s quick to take ideas and concepts on board.

Injuries
Michael Fatialofa. He’s not ready for selection this week but he should be ready in the next two weeks.
Alafoti Faosiliva. He has been cleared to play and is available for selection this week. He’s a physical player and a strong ball carrier and we are excited to have him back.
Carl Kirwan. Carl is training again but he’s not been cleared to play yet.
GJ van Velze. Hopeful that he will be back for the next block of Premiership matches.
Matti Williams. He had a stinger at Gloucester but has been cleared to play this weekend.
Marco Mama. Hopefully we will see him on the pitch in the next week or two.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 11 December, 2018 16:18
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s European Challenge Cup match against Pau.

Here’s what Rory had to say:

On last Friday’s match in Pau
It wasn’t our best performance. The weather conditions made it difficult but we conceded two soft tries which put us on the back foot.

On the return match this weekend
Looking forward to the return match. It’s a new experience for me playing a team back-to-back. We are looking forward to taking Pau on again.

Players signing new contracts
Jamie Shillcock: He’s another product of our Academy. The way that we are going to build this club is by retaining the talent coming through from the Academy.
Michael Heaney: He’s started a few games recently. He’s come from a Championship club and proved that he is good enough to play in the Premiership.

Isaac Miller’s return from injury
He stood out in the pre-season match in Treviso. Unfortunately Isaac got injured there but he has made a great recovery. He brings a lot of energy, he trains hard and he’s not scared to put his head in dark places.

Injuries
Jamie Shillcock. Suffered a leg injury and due to see a specialist this week. We are waiting on the medical report but hopefully it’s not too serious.
Andrew Kitchener and Darren Barry: Clashed heads making a tackle. Won’t be considered for selection this weekend.
Michael Fatialofa: He will be considered for selection this weekend. It’s exciting to have him available.
Marco Mama and Francois Hougaard: They have been training with the squad this week. We will make a call on them later in the week.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 18 December, 2018 17:26
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Northampton Saints.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the win against Pau
The conditions were very difficult. The wind increased in the second half, it was freezing cold and raining.
We played intelligently in the first half, dominated territory and converted the pressure we had into two tries. We turned to play into the wind and dug in.

Duncan Weir’s contract extension
Absolutely delighted. Duncan has played terrifically well for us this season.
He showed that on Saturday what a good goal kicker he is. He can also steer us around the field, he’s a good game manager, he’s a very experienced player and a good bloke.

GJ Velze’s contract extension
He’s been here a long time, he’s club captain, he’s played well this season and it sends out a really positive message.
We are getting a lot of the youngsters signed up but it’s important to blend that in with experienced players like GJ.

On Northampton
Looking at the Premiership table, from fourth to 12th place, there is nothing in it. It’s such a tough competition.
Northampton have some really good players, lots of experience and they are a very physical team so it will be another tough contest.

Ben Te’o
Ben had a rest after playing in three of England’s Autumn Internationals. He came back on Sunday and has trained this week. He’s looking in great shape.
It’s not Ben’s fault that he was injured and he has played only 30 minutes for us this season against Ospreys. We need to bleed * him into the system at the right time. It’s a relatively quick process with such an experienced player.

On Alan’s first year with Warriors
I am very positive about the direction we are going. The vision I have is we want to build a sustainable Premiership club through excellent coaching and a vibrant, flourishing Academy.
At the moment the Club is in a very good state. We have restructured our Performance Department which operating well now under Johan Pretorius. Chim Gale is doing a good job with the Three Pears Warriors Academy. The new ownership has bedded in, we have a shared vision for the club which is really positive so we have made good progress.

Injuries
Jono Lance. By the beginning of February Jono should be fine. He’s progressing well.
Francois Hougaard, Sam Lewis and GJ van Velze. Have all trained this week and will be available for selection.
Jamie Shillcock. Is due to see a specialist on Wednesday about the ankle injury he sustained in Pau.
Alafoti Faosiliva. It looks like he may have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury scoring his try on Saturday. It’s a tragedy that he is injured again because he is an invaluable member of the squad.
Cornell du Preez. Is out for the season.


* NOTE: Notes were edited to correct, as I though, a misprint. I changed "bleed" to "blend" but I have now re-edited back to the original.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 19/12/2018 08:28 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 27 December, 2018 16:39
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Saracens.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the Northampton match
It was very disappointing. We were on the back foot in the first half but we were only 12-3 down at half-time.
The turning point came when they scored an interception try midway through the second half. That was a 14-point score.
We have got to look after the ball better. I am confident that the lineout will be sorted out.

On the trip to Saracens
They are one of the top teams in Europe, they are at home and they are coming off the back of a loss at Exeter.
It will be a tough and challenging afternoon.

Will Ben Te’o play?
Ben will definitely be involved and I can see him starting this weekend.
Ben has been very unfortunate with injuries since I arrived at Warriors. But he’s worked hard in training, he’s been enthusiastic, he’s a good player and I’m sure he will give a good account of himself this weekend.

Scott van Breda’s new contract
Scott is a good bloke and a good rugby player. He’s a versatile player who can play 15 or 10 and he’s also a good goalkicker so to have someone with his degree of versatility adds value to the squad.

Injuries
Ryan Mills suffered a bruised wrist against Northampton and is unlikely to play this weekend.
Marco Mama has got some soreness behind the knee he had surgery on.
Niall Annett he is recovering from the head knock he suffered in Pau.
Jamie Shillcock has an ankle injury and is unlikely to play in January.
Cornell du Preez will have an operation next month to remove a cyst. Once he’s had surgery we will get a clearer picture but he’s unlikely to play this season.
Cornell has done some cardio-vascular and gym work but what he has been through is traumatic and we have given him some time away.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 01 January, 2019 16:57
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of the Gallagher Premiership match against Bath Rugby.

Here’s what Alan had to say…

On Saracens away
We played balanced, constructive rugby in the first half. Our decision-making and execution were good and we scored two good tries.
In the second half we made some mistakes and each time we were punished.
But there were a lot of positives to be taken and we showed great character particularly when we defended a five metres lineout around the 72nd minutes and won a turnover.

On Saturday’s home match against Bath
Everyone is motivated to put in a really good performance against very strong opposition who have struck rich vein of form recently. They have had some good victories since we played them in November.
It’s a massive challenge and we are looking forward to it. We want to play well at home. We were disappointed with the Northampton game and we would like to have a good game in front of our own supporters.

On Perry Humphreys’ performance at Saracens
Perry did really well. He’s got electric pace and he defended well.
We have really good for competition for places in the squad so if someone does fall out through injury we have players who can step up to the mark to come in.

On Ben Te’o’s performance
He went well with Francois Venter in the middle. It was Ben’s first game with the team this season apart from his appearance as a replacement against Ospreys. He has looked good and sharp in practice.

On Cavaliers’ Premiership Rugby Shield match at Sale Jets on Sunday
The feedback from Gordon Ross was that the lads did well for the first 60 minutes but then let it slip in the last 20 minutes.
These matches allow us to have a look at some of our Academy players and also to give some game time to senior players.

On recruitment and retention of players
Under Premiership Rugby regulations we are not allowed to speak to players from other clubs until January 1.
That window is now open so clubs will be doing that and we are no different.
We have done quite a lot of retention of players so far. It’s been a busy time and will continue to be.

Injuries
Michael Fatialofa has been suffering from a virus which forced him to miss the Saracens match. He hasn’t trained this week but hopefully he will be back on Thursday.
Nick Schonert has trained all week and should be available on Saturday.
Josh Adams is still suffering from a tight hamstring.
Ryan Mills is tracking well and we will see how he is on Thursday.
Marco Mama trained on Tuesday and he is making nice progress. We will see how he is on Thursday.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 08 January, 2019 15:57
[warriors.co.uk]

Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s European Challenge Cup match against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

Here’s what Rory had to say:

On the win against Bath
The last 18 or 19 minutes were the longest of my life. But we were very happy with the result and the players had to fight from being 19-3 down at half-time.
The win means a lot to us as a club. It’s nice to go into a five week break from the Gallagher Premiership with a win under your belt.
Not everything went to plan in the first half but we would like to focus on the positive which is the fightback we had in the second half when we were a lot more clinical and put 18 points on the board.

On Duncan Weir’s winning conversion
It was good to see him put that one over.
Duncan is a quality player and once Bryce Heem had scored the try I was confident Duncan would put that one over.

On Ospreys this weekend
We are facing our toughest challenge in the competition so far. Ospreys are at home, they have proven that at home they are a tough team to play.
It will be a different game to the one we had against them at Sixways in October.
They will have some personnel changes and when they are at home they are on their game. They are physical team who play a fast brand of rugby.
They have an intelligent kicking game which is something we will have to manage.

On likely team selection
Because of the big break there are a number of games that we can select to rotate the squad.
What we have normally done is at the end of a block of Premiership games we have given guys who have started the majority of matches some time off.
We haven’t done that this time. All the players have been training from the beginning of the week and we will finalise selection on Thursday.

On the European Challenge Cup campaign
The games have been competitive, we not had an easy game.
Stade away was a tough outing but we got a great result there. We then beat Ospreys at home the following week.
The away game at Pau didn’t go our way but we managed to turn things around in the return match here.
But this week’s game is going to be a little bit different. It means a lot to both teams.

Ben Te’o’s performances in recent weeks
Ben is a big man and he carries hard and he has given us front foot ball against Saracens and Bath.
Having a person like Ben with his experience will add a lot of value and I think you can anticipate seeing Ben in action again this weekend.

Injuries
Nick Schonert has a sternum injury. Nick is being assessed by the medical staff but he will not be available this weekend.
Gareth Milasinovich took a bang to the head. He is still busy with the medical staff at the moment but he didn’t fail his HIA.
Perry Humphreys sustained an ankle injury against Bath. He is having scans today to assess the extent of the injury.
Josh Adams has been cleared to resume training on Thursday.
Bryce Heem has been given a 10-days’ break and has gone back to New Zealand.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
centrethere 15 January, 2019 17:40
[warriors.co.uk]

Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s European Challenge Cup match against Stade Francais.

Here’s what Rory had to say….

On qualifying for the quarter-finals

We have not spent a lot of time looking at the table, we really have been taking it week by week.
We have another big challenge this weekend with Stade. We have been going over their games from the last couple of weeks and they are a decent outfit with some big ball carriers.
On the possibility of a home quarter-final

We are fighting for the win first. We are prepping ourselves to win, if we get a bonus point that’s fantastic.
But our focus at this moment in time is to make sure that we get the win. It won’t be an easy task but we will be well-prepared for the weekend.
On the win at Ospreys

We said it was going to be tough going there. We managed to get points early on, we lost our way a little but in the second quarter but we managed to pull it together nicely after half-time.
We selected a lot of players that needed an opportunity and game time and I believe a lot of those guys really put their hand up.
Ethan Waller and Simon Kerrod played the full 80 minutes at Ospreys

That wasn’t the plan, They needed a good hit out and we felt that we were going well. The guys were feeling good.
Ethan did a great job for us at loosehead, Simon had about 12 ball carries and he made 12 or 13 tackles.
Both were still going strong at 70 minutes so we just decided to play them out. Making changes in the dying minutes is always risky.
It’s important that everybody gets game time, that’s how you become a better player. I can imagine it was frustrating for Jack Cosgrove and Joe Morris that they didn’t get a game but they are both good team men and I’m sure they will get opportunities in the coming week.
On the likely team selection

Quite a few more guys will come in this week. A couple of guys who didn’t get an opportunity last week will filter back into the team.
Injuries

Josh Adams is not available for selection this week. If we take risk with him now he could be out for six to eight weeks.
Farai Mudariki has a niggling injury at the moment but I’m hoping we will see him in a Warriors jersey in the next couple of weeks.
Francois Hougaard has trained fully this week and he is available this week. We haven’t finalised selection but he is definitely under consideration.
Ollie Lawrence came off with cramp at Ospreys. He has trained this week and is fit and ready to go.
Nick Schonert is not yet contact fit but he will be in a week or so.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 30 January, 2019 17:56
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Wasps.

Here’s what Alan had to say…

On reaching the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals
It’s great for us as a club to have a home quarter-final. It’s a massive thing for our supporters and for the club as a whole.
We seem to have perfected the art of the last-gasp victory and that engenders a very powerful positive effect on the team because they know that even with a limited amount of time left in a game they still have the ability of winning it and they have the capability of doing so.

How is everyone after a week off?
Apart from players rehabilitating from injuries and some of the staff involved in that we were able to give everyone in the rugby department an eight-day break.
We started pre-season in June and the season itself has been going since September 1 and we have been going hammer-and-tongs since then.
Everyone has come back refreshed and we need to look at giving some rugby to guys who haven’t played for a while.
Players need to get away and recharge their batteries. We have practised well this week, there has been a lot of energy and that is probably down to the break.

On Wasps
We don’t know exactly what sort of side Wasps will put out but we expect it to be a pretty strong one.
They can’t qualify for the semi-finals so this will be their only game before we start the next block of Premiership matches.

On the Premiership Cup as a competition
It’s been a good competition. At times we have utilised it to prepare for Premiership games. Against Saracens we had the opportunity to give our younger players a run. There are positive features to it.
The Premiership is our priority but we feel that we have got the strength in depth to be competitive in all competitions.
We already have a home quarter-final in Europe and we have the opportunity if play well on Sunday to secure a home semi-final in this competition.
The extra games are good for the squad overall. They do give an opportunity to all players to play. Everyone has been able to get some rugby in a period when we have had no Premiership matches. We have done that and been successful and it leads to a feel-good factor in the club.

Injuries
Nick Schonert has recovered from his sternum injury and has trained this week.
GJ van Velze has also trained this week and is fine.
Michael Fatialofa will probably not be considered this week. He’s tracking nicely but he took a bang on the shoulder.
Perry Humphreys is not ready yet. We will see next week how he is tracking when we may or may not be playing. Hopefully he will be fit to play against Harlequins.
Jamie Shillcock is also a couple of weeks away.
Jono Lance has had a couple of weeks back in Australia but he will be back next week and he should be ready to play.
Kai Owen suffered a thigh injury training with England Under-20s but he’s back training with us again.
Cornell du Preez will have further scans in the next two or three weeks but he is running and we are pleased with the progress he is making.

Carl Kirwan’s loan with Ealing Trailfinders
Carl hasn’t had a lot of opportunity here in the Premiership side. He has come back from injury and this gives him an opportunity to play on a regular basis.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 30/01/2019 17:58 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 06 February, 2019 17:12
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final against Saracens at Sixways.

Here’s what Alan had to say….

On reaching the knockout stages of another cup competition
We said that our primary focus is the Premiership but we felt that our squad was good enough to be competitive in all competitions and we have been able to do that which is very positive.
We have a home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup and a semi-final in the Premiership Rugby Cup which is good for the squad as a whole and for our supporters.

Incentive of having a home final to play for
We are going to do everything in our power to win this game.
Our aim was to do as well as we possibly could in every competition in which we play and the fact that we have home knockout games in two competitions is brilliant.

On the Wasps win
We played some good stuff in the first half but we didn’t finish any of our opportunities. We were only 9-8 up at half-time despite having 76 per cent territory.
In the second half we were less dominant but every opportunity we had we scored.

Another win after being behind
We are certainly resilient. Confidence gets engendered by the fact that they have played a number games where we have had to come back from behind to win the game.

Having a home semi-final
It’s massive for the club, our supporters and the club. It will be a great occasion.

On Saracens
They are a very good side. We played them in our pool, we both finished on 16 points and we had a better points difference.
The other two semi-finalists had 15 points and Saracens have ended up as best runners-up so we play them again.
They are a very good side. I respect what they have done over a number of years and whatever team they put out will be a good team.

Looking ahead to return of Premiership
There is a five-day turnaround for this game and we start a Premiership block next week so there has to be some rotation and there will be an opportunity for a number of players.
At least we then have an eight-day turnaround before we go to Harlequins.

On signing Graham Kitchener
He’s a guy who grew up here, he came through the Academy and played in the first team before he went to ply his trade with Leicester.
The fact that he has decided to return home speaks volumes of the direction we are heading in as a club.
It sends out a very powerful message that he will be back here and playing with his brother, Andrew, as well.

On Conor Carey’s signing
He’s English-born and has done well for Connacht. We have kept our eye on him and had very positive feedback.
He will benefit from working with Mefin Davies who is an outstanding scrum coach.

Injuries
Nick Schonert definitely will not be considered this week but should be fit for Harlequins.
Callum Black dislocated a finger against Wasps but he should be OK for this weekend if he is needed.
Michael Fatialofa is not 100 per cent ready yet. He’s taking a full part in practise but we will probably wait another week.
Perry Humphreys will not be ready to face Saracens but hopefully will be ready for Harlequins.
Jono Lance returned from Australia and he has trained this week. We will see how he tracks in practise.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
Simba 12 February, 2019 19:19
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Harlequins.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On facing Harlequins

The level of competition in the Premiership this season is incredible. Apart from Exeter and Saracens who are a little bit apart there is not much between Harlequins in third and the rest.
Paul Gustard has done a terrific job as Harlequins’ Director of Rugby. He is known as a defence coach and Harlequins have defended well this season.
They will also be able to select Mike Brown, Chris Robshaw and Danny Care who have not been playing for England.
We play them in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals at the end of March but our focus is on this week which is the start of a block of four Premiership games.
Ben Te’o’s availability

Ben has trained with us today and yesterday. England are due to announce a training squad for their match against Wales next week and the decision on Ben’s availability remains with England.
Josh Adams’ availability

Josh is available to play for us this weekend as it is a fallow week in the Six Nations. We gave Josh 48 hours to recover from Wales’ win in Italy but he trained fully today.
Injuries

Francois Hougaard, Bryce Heem and Nick Schonert are all fit and have trained fully this week.
Michael Fatialofa has practised this week and is fine.
Jono Lance has practised this week but is probably another week away.
Jamie Shillcock is in a similar position to Jono Lance and is probably a week away although he has been training this week.
Perry Humphreys is probably two to three weeks away.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 20 February, 2019 17:33
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Leicester Tigers.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the signing of Melani Nanai
He’s a fantastic signing for us. He’s a very good footballer. He’s playing for the Blues at 14 but he’s also played plenty of rugby at 15 as well.
Michael Fatialofa played with him in the Mitre Cup last year and he said that Melani played a major role in them winning that competition.
We have had fantastic reports about Melani and watching the footage you can see that he is a fantastic footballer.
We need to see how things pan out as to whether he will be here for the start of next season. Whatever obligations Melani has to the New Zealand Rugby Union he will fulfil them.

On Marco Mama’s contract extension
I am very pleased. Marco is an absolutely outstanding player. He’s an invaluable member of the squad and he has a leadership role within the squad.
It’s brilliant that he is staying with us. He’s a very, very good pro.

On Tom Howe’s form
Tom did really well in the semi-final against Saracens and in the away European Challenge Cup match at Stade Francais.
He only had a brief cameo at Harlequins on Saturday but he made a good tackler on their winger and scored a try so he did pretty well.

On the Harlequins match
We started poorly. We gave away some soft tries through skill errors and defensive system errors.
The positive is that we stuck to it and got a try bonus point and we almost got a second bonus point.

On Leicester
Leicester have a proud tradition. They are a very physical side, they have a good set piece and they will be pretty direct.
What’s happened in the past against them has no relevance on what is about to take place.
Each block of Premiership games takes on a different level of importance as the season progresses.
This is an important block and we need to produce a really good performance this weekend.

Player availability
Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence will be with us. On a Premiership weekend we have first call on them. In a Premiership Rugby Cup weekend England have first call on them.
Duncan Weir trained with Scotland earlier this week but he has now been released by them and he trained with us on Wednesday.

Injuries
GJ van Velze has got a fracture to a forearm. We have to wait until the specialist has had a look at the scans. He won’t be playing this weekend.
Jonny Arr with a bit of knee problem so he’s not available.
Jono Lance is fully fit and he has been training this week.
Jamie Shillcock is training fully again.
Perry Humphreys is still out.
Pierce Phillips has recovered from his foot injury and he is available for selection this week.
Dean Hammond has a bicep tendon injury which he sustained in training and he will require surgery.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 27 February, 2019 17:21
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Newcastle Falcons.

Here is what Alan had to say:

On the Leicester Tigers win
It was another pretty close one but it was great that we managed to get the win at the death.
We had a number of opportunities in the first half that we didn’t close out so we did make life difficult for ourselves. Closing out the opportunities we create is very important.
The important thing is that we have won a number of games right at the death and that does develop confidence within the group.
We showed resolve and resilience and we fought right to the bitter end.

On Newcastle
We know that all Premiership games are tough and they are all important but this is a big game.
We have to focus not on what happens as a consequence of anything. We need to focus on getting our performance 100 per cent right to give ourselves the best chance of getting a result.
It’s an important game for them, seen in context, there’s no doubt about that. They are at home and it’s a big game for them so we know we are going to be in for a very, very tough encounter.

Bryce Heem’s decision not to extend his contract
Bryce is a fantastic bloke and a fantastic team man. He’s a brilliant rugby player and we will miss him.
He has reached the point in his career where he wants a different experience. He have done everything we can to try and persuade him to stay. We are dreadfully sorry to lose him but we wish him well.
Bryce has been terrific for the club. I cannot speak highly enough of him. I perfectly understand and respect his reasons and everyone at the club wishes Bryce all the best. Bryce will always be welcome back at Sixways.

Ed Fidow’s signing
He’s got a lot of talent. He’s played seven Tests for Samoa and he’s also played sevens for them.
Ed has got pace and a bit of the X-Factor about him and everything we have heard about him is very positive.

Josh Adams back from Wales duty
Josh certainly made his mark at the weekend. He did exceptionally well because he took quite a bad knock before that. It was an incredible cross-kick by Dan Biggar but Josh did exceptionally well in the air to score the try.
He has done superbly. He’s class rugby player and a class bloke.
The guys here are very proud of Josh and what he has achieved. He has come through the Academy here and it’s great to see a player that has been produced by the club do well on the international stage.

On Josh’s future
Josh is a good pro. He focuses on his rugby. He always gives everything when he plays for us and he does the same when he plays for his country.
He’s pretty rugby-focused, once he does that the rest takes care of itself.

Injuries
GJ van Velze has had an operation on his forearm. He’s had some wire in there and it will be six weeks before he has that out and two to four weeks after that before he will be available to play.
Duncan Weir is fine and will be available this weekend.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 06 March, 2019 17:27
[warriors.co.uk]

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Exeter Chiefs at Sixways.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the defeat at Newcastle
We didn’t do ourselves justice. We didn’t control the key moments and allowed them to dominate the collisions.
The turning point came at 10-6 when we had the opportunity to score out wide but a pass went into touch. They scored their second try soon afterwards and that was a 14 point turnaround.
We struggled at lineout time and made a number of handling and passing errors. Newcastle’s nine and ten pinned us in our own half and they had 67 per cent territory in the second half.

On facing Exeter
We had a very good training session today, we will practise again on Thursday and have Friday off.
It’s a massive game against one of the top two teams in the Premiership. Like Saracens, Exeter are a very powerful team and it’s going to be a massive challenge.
Exeter are a very physical team and so we are expecting very physical game.

Chris Pennell’s Testimonial Day
Chris has been a fantastic servant to the club. He’s a good player, a good bloke and fantastic team man.
He’s a very intelligent player, he’s consistent and reliable and a good all-round footballer.
I hope that we can produce a performance that befits the occasion.

Luke Baldwin’s loan move to Harlequins
Luke needs some game time. There are no Cavaliers matches at the moment and Harlequins needed a scrum-half.
It’s a win-win situation and it’s good to see Luke back in action.
He won’t be able to play against us in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final as he is cup-tied having played for us against Stade Francais in Paris.

Injuries
Jack Singleton has suffered ligament damage in an elbow. He is seeing a specialist but he won’t be fit to play against Exeter
Niall Annett has been able to practise today. He has made good progress with his recovery from a shoulder injury but we will assess him further on Thursday.
Beck Cutting is not available at the moment because he suffered an ankle injury playing for Bath University last week.
Marco Mama suffered a head injury at Newcastle. He is going through the return-to-play protocol but we are optimistic that he will be able to play against Exeter.
Perry Humphreys is taking a full part in practise this week and should be fit for consideration for selection against Bristol in two weeks’ time.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 19 March, 2019 17:14
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of the Gallagher Premiership match against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Saturday.Here’s what Alan had to say:

On Bristol
It’s the case that every single game is a massive challenge. Bristol, like every team in the Premiership, are well coached and they will be well-prepared.
They have got some quality players and it will be a tough game. They are a team that plays with tempo so it will be a reasonably quick-paced game.

How important is it to start well?
The opening part of any game is critical, we saw with that with Wales at the weekend, but there are also key momentum shifts during a game.

Cornell du Preez’s return to training
Having Cornell back in training is a real positive for us at a time when GJ van Velze is out injured.
Cornell has just had his first full week of training since the first week of the season and he’s come through it well.
There is no reason to believe that he will not play for us before the end of the season.
He’s as tough as nails. The injury he suffered against Wasps was unfortunate but horrific. It was an injury that you see in Formula One but rarely in rugby. We are fortunate in this country to have fantastic hospital facilities, outstanding doctors and surgeons and first-class treatment.

Josh Adams winning the Grand Slam with Wales
I think that Josh has been outstanding in every game he has played. He has established himself as a regular in a team that is now number two in the world.

Will Ben Te’o play this weekend?
Ben has trained with us on Monday and again today.
He started four games for us before the Six Nations and played well.
He missed the Ireland match through injury, played a full match against Italy but only had three or four minutes against Scotland on Saturday so he’s not played a lot of rugby in recent weeks.

Injuries
Ollie Lawrence rolled an ankle playing for England Under-20s against Scotland. He’s still got to see a specialist but it likely he will not play again this season.
Jack Singleton is back in training but he won’t be playing this weekend.
Ashley Beck is progressing nicely and we hope he will be back playing again before the end of the season.
Perry Humphreys is still two to three weeks away from playing.
Francois Venter suffered a head injury against Exeter and will have to go through the return-to-play protocol before he can play.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 19/03/2019 17:16 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 19 March, 2019 17:14

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 26 March, 2019 17:38
[warriors.co.uk]

Head Coach Rory Duncan spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Harlequins at Sixways (kick-off 8.15pm).

Here’s what Rory had to say:

On beating Bristol
It was a very important win for the club. It got relatively tight towards the back end but it was good to come away four extremely valuable points.
When Bristol scored their last try and got close to scoring another we were under a bit of pressure but we held them out defensively. We won a scrum on our own line and managed to hold the ball for the last 15 to 20 seconds.

Duncan Weir’s kicking
I was chuffed when he walked up a grabbed the tee to kick that penalty from halfway.
It shows the value of Duncan as a player. He has done it for us a number of times this season and with him to step up in a big game like that, I was very pleased with him.

On the quarter-final
The guys are very excited about it. There’s been a real buzz around the club this week as we step into Europe.
We didn’t set out thinking that down the line that we would be in a play-off at home.
As a group the players had belief that they were going to win. We have played quite a few of the younger guys in this competition and a lot of them have put up their hand for opportunities.

Likely selection for Harlequins
A lot of games in Europe have come after a couple of Premiership games so we have broken up our season into different blocks.
This time the players had a rest before Bristol. We have made changes and rotated the squad but I don’t think there will be too many changes this week.

On Harlequins
It’s a great opportunity for a lot of the players to play in a quarter-final and fight for that semi-final position.
I don’t know what Harlequins strategy is but I imagine they will have the same mindset as us and go strong which will make for a great game.
They are a quality outfit, they have got good depth as well. Even if they do make one or two changes we anticipate it will be a good contest.

Injuries
Jono Lance is going through the return-to-play protocol and we will make a call on him later in the week.
Francois Venter has gone through the protocols and passed his return-to-contact protocols so he is fit and he will be in consideration for selection.
Cornell du Preez is now available for selection. It’s exciting to have him back. Since he’s been back in full training the last couple of weeks he’s put in some big hits. I think he’s been testing himself to see if he’s ready to go and he certainly looks ready to go.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 02 April, 2019 17:06
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Wasps.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the Harlequins European Challenge Cup quarter-final
We dominated the match but we made too many unforced errors and the consequence was the opportunities we had to score tries were missed.
We turned over too much ball and that cost us the match. Apart from the turnovers we can take a lot of confidence from the game.
We scrummed very well, dominated the collisions, the possession and territory on the night but if you make too many unforced errors you pay the price.

An overall view of the Challenge Cup campaign
We have made full use of the squad and everybody contributed.
We had a good record in the round robin winning five out of six matches and two of our three away games.

On Cavaliers victory against Northampton Wanderers
That was a terrific performance. It was great to see some of the young guys playing so well.
It’s tough to single out people because across the board everyone played well.
It was a tremendous game to watch and if they can produce another performance like that against Wasps at Sixways next Monday, then I back them to win it.

On Wasps
It’s another big game. They are at home and it’s a big challenge for us but we are looking forward to it.
When we played them at home on the first day of the season it came down to a drop goal attempt at the end. Perhaps we didn’t quite get the rub of the goal but that sometimes happen. But it’s a completely different time now and the season has moved on.
Wasps are a good side. We have got to be a little bit wary of how they have played of late. They have got quality right across the team.

Injuries
Ted Hill, Nick Schonert, Marco Mama and Anton Bresler were all given the chance to rest minor injuries last week and have trained this week.
Bryce Heem had a bit of discomfort underneath a foot but he should be fine this weekend.
Josh Adams I gave Josh a five day break having gone straight into the game at Bristol off the back of a Grand Slam. He has trained this week and has come back fresh and he feels good.
Jack Singleton has trained this week but it may be a week too early for him to play at Wasps.
Jamie Shillcock has a muscle injury which he got from kicking and which is causing him a problem. It’s an injury that’s between four and eight weeks so there is a possibility that he might not be available this season.
Jono Lance has come through his HIA protocols and is available for selection.
Cornell du Preez had a very industrious 25 minutes against Harlequins and he looked very good.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 09 April, 2019 15:34
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Sale Sharks at Sixways (kick-off 3.00pm).

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On last week’s Wasps match
In the opening 20 minutes we made it very difficult for ourselves. We started brightly, got a penalty but then we didn’t handle the kick off very well. They got in behind us and got a try and then scored two more tries.
We got back into the game in the second 20 minutes and when Chris Pennell kicked that incredible penalty early in the second half it was 21-16.
But we could not get a foothold in their territory. There were five occasions when we got into their half and let them off the hook for a variety of different reasons.

On facing Sale
It’s a massive challenge for us. They had a good win against Harlequins at the weekend and they played very well.
They are a good all-round side with some really good players and they are well-organised.
Newcastle Falcons play Leicester Tigers on Friday night
We can only control the things that we can control and not worry about what is happening elsewhere.
Sale are quality opposition and we need to come out and play against them.
Three out of last four matches are at home
It’s important to play in front of your supporters at your home ground.
But what is also important is the performance that we deliver.

Injuries
Nick Schonert missed the Wasps match because of a back spasm but he trained today and we expect him to play against Sale.
Jack Singleton has also trained today.
Michael Fatialofa has not trained today and we will assess him later in the week.
Bryce Heem hasn’t trained today but we are optimistic that he will recover from his foot injury.
Anton Bresler has a calf injury and we will assess him on Thursday.
Pierce Phillips is going through the return-to-play protocols after his HIA.
Farai Mudariki suffered a head injury in Monday’s Cavaliers match against Wasps A
Jono Lance has been cleared to train but we need to see how is later in the week.
Josh Adams sustained a dead leg at Wasps and we need to look at him again.
Ashley Beck has been training but is unlikely to play again this season.
GJ van Velze is making good progress and we expect him to be back, possibly after this block of matches.
Ollie Lawrence had an operation earlier this week and he won’t play again this season.
Jamie Shillcock could possibly play again before the end of the season.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 24 April, 2019 16:50
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Gloucester.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On the Sale Sharks win
It was a vital win. The key was we performed really well on the day in all facets of play. As a consequence of that we got the result.
In the Monday review after the Wasps match we made it clear that performance was not of the standard we require and everyone was in the right frame of mind against Sale.

What difference has that win made?
There is still some way to go. We enjoyed the evening after the Sale game but we have three massive games left and it starts with Gloucester on Sunday.
It’s not difficult for me not to look at other teams. I can’t control what they do. My focus is on making sure we get our performance right. If we get our performance right then we can compete with anybody in what is a potent competition.
We got it right against Sale and we need to get it right in every one of the last three games.

On Gloucester
Gloucester are pushing for a home semi-final. They can possibly catch Saracens.
They will present a massive challenge. They are a quality team with good players right across the board and there is no lack of motivation for them.
It also has a local derby atmosphere. I would like us to have a full house here at Sixways because every single supporter does make a difference. For the players to run out to a sea of blue and gold flags does make a difference to them.
It’s all about how we perform. If we can replicate the performance we had against Sale then anything is possible but we have to perform well.

On player recruitment
It’s pretty much completed. I am happy with the recruitment process. You always have people that are going to move on and people you have to bring in.
We know that Bryce has elected to have a different experience before he retires and Josh Adams has got to play in Wales.
Ben Te’o is coming towards the end of his career and he has got to decide what he wants to do. He’s giving absolutely everything for us at the moment. The World Cup is his goal at this point and then he has got to decide what is appropriate for him.
But Melani Nanai has been in scintillating form for the Blues and Ed Fidow has played really well for Samoa.
Overall we will have a very strong squad and what is nice is to see a lot of youngsters pushing into the squad.

On Caleb Montgomery’s signing from Ulster
He’s a young lad who I think has got some potential. He’s a very physical, aggressive player who is going to add value to us.
It’s an opportunity for him. Everything I have seen and heard about him has been really positive. I think he is going to show what he can do next season.

On Wynand Olivier’s decision to retire
Wynand has made a really positive contribution this year. He’s played quite a few games in the Cavaliers and he’s helped the youngsters around him.
He has had a stellar career. He’s won a World Cup, he’s a top flight international and he’s a consummate professional.
I think he’s enjoyed his time at Worcester. We have really enjoyed having here. He’s been of huge benefit to the development of youngsters, to the team and the club overall.

On Jonny Arr’s contribution to Warriors
Jonny has been a fantastic servant to the club over many years. He’s Worcester born and bred and he has made an invaluable contribution.
Hopefully Jonny will find somewhere where he can be a number one scrum-half or at the least a number two.

Injuries
Ryan Mills is going to have an operation on his shoulder. He’s been very brave and played a number of games with his shoulder not being right. He will have an operation and hopefully he will be ready for next season.
Will Butler fractured a forearm just before the end of the Cavaliers match at Newcastle on Monday night and he will need an operation.
GJ van Velze is close to returning. He is taking a full part in training which is a positive.
Michael Fatialofa is back in full training so hopefully he will be available for selection.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 01 May, 2019 17:16
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Northampton Saints.

Here’s what Alan had to say:

On securing Premiership status by beating Gloucester
It was huge game and we played really well which was the key.
It’s fantastic that at this stage of the season we have secured our Premiership status.
It’s a very tough league and a really good competition which is shown by the fact that we played Gloucester, who are third in the league and deservedly so, and we beat them. By and large, on any given day, any team can beat any other team.

How do you approach Northampton Saints?
We have got the job done, that’s the approach we have got to take. Saturday is another huge challenge, it’s a six day turnaround and they are a very good team who are challenging for a play off place and they are at home.
The players enjoyed Sunday night and they certainly earned it. They had 48 hours to recover from playing Gloucester and came back in today. We reviewed the game today but when that finished we put it to bed. That’s history. You have to look forward to the next challenge.
The lads are playing well at the moment. They are motivated, they know that there are two games to go and they want to do as well as they can. The only way you can do that is to put in two big performances.

On Andrew Kitchener and Joe Morris moving from the Three Pears Warriors Academy to the senior squad
Joe has been doing an undergraduate degree at Oxford until now and he has been busy with his studies. This this will be the chance for him to devote himself to full-time rugby and prove himself.
Andrew has finished the season strongly and I expect big things from him next season. He’s an intelligent boy, he’s a big man, a very good lineout forward and very good around the field. He has played at number six before and his work rate is incredible. He has got the physicality already at this age. I think he’s a good all-round player and if he continues to progress it’s but a matter of time before he gets an international cap.

There are a number of good young players coming through
It’s fantastic that there are so many good young players coming through. We’ve got Joe Morris, Beck Cutting, Kai Owen in the front row, Justin Clegg, Kitch, James Scott at lock, Ted Hill and Tom Dodd in the loose forwards, Ollie Lawrence and Will Butler at centre, Nick David and Alex Hearle. It’s quite incredible.
We want to build this place through homegrown Worcester players. I would like to see the core of the squad from Worcester.

Injuries
Marco Mama suffered a dead leg in the Gloucester match and needed to go into hospital for an operation on Sunday. He will probably need a further operation this week.
GJ van Velze is fully fit again and will return against Northampton.
Jamie Shillcock is training but is not quite 100 per cent yet.
Scott van Breda has had an operation on the shoulder injury he sustained in the Cavaliers match at Newcastle.
Ryan Mills has also had a shoulder operation.
Perry Humphreys will have an operation during the summer on an ankle but he will be fine for the last two matches
Josh Adams has trained today and he will be fine for Saturday.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2019 20:25 by A38.

Re: Press Conference Notes - Season 2018/2019
A38 14 May, 2019 17:03
[warriors.co.uk]

Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership season finale against Saracens at Sixways.
Here’s what Alan had to say:

On facing Saracens a week after they won the European Champions Cup.
They are a fantastic side and they have established themselves as the best in Europe, there’s no doubt about that.
I thought their defence against Leinster was incredible and the way they managed the game was terrific.
They also won the Premiership Rugby Shield on Monday so they have got fantastic strength in depth and they are a really powerful club.

A number of players will be saying farewell on Saturday how important is it to give them a good send-off?
It’s a big occasion, it’s the last game of the season and, as happens in professional sport, some players will be moving on during the summer.
We need to perform well and we want to end the season on the right note. We want to put right that performance at Northampton and we want to go into the off season with a good performance under our belt against quality opposition.

It’s the end of an era for Jonny Arr who has played all his rugby here.
There is strong likelihood that Jonny will feature against Saracens.He has been a terrific servant for the club. He’s played more than 200 games for Warriors.
He came to professional rugby straight from school and he has played all his career here. He’s been here when things have gone well and at times when things perhaps have not gone quite so well.
He’s a good club man and he’s given a lot to Warriors. He’s a good human being, very easy to work with and he’s a good professional.

Will it be an emotional day for Wynand Olivier who will retire after Saturday.
Wynand draws the curtain on a stellar career. He has won a World Cup, he’s won Super Rugby titles, he’s played all over the world, he’s played for the Barbarians and all that is coming to an end.

For all the players leaving it is an emotional time.
Let me assure you that we will do things properly on Saturday for every player who is leaving us.

Bryce Heem will miss out on Saturday but how would you assess his contribution in his time with Warriors?
I’m saddened and Bryce is saddened that he won’t be playing on Saturday. But he has been fantastic.
He’s a class rugby player who has got X-Factor.

How do you assess the progress the club has made this season?
We have made good progress but that a massive work-on for us is our consistency. We have not been consistent enough.
Our progress is shown in the fact that we have more matches and have more points than last season.

Injuries
Francois Venter is 100 per cent clear.
Hoping that Perry Humphreys, Nick Schonert and Gareth Milasinovich, who failed a HIA in the second half at Northampton, will be OK.


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