This Season

JB - Aimed for more than 50 points, so has been disappointing, but we have now gone from battlers at the bottom to contenders for places.

“Played some good rugby, but not good rugby consistently enough”

New Signings/Forthcoming

JB – Over the next 4/6 weeks, should expect another 4-6 new signings on top of the 4 already confirmed.

When asked can you name them, answer was “No”

We are looking at signing at least a back rower, a hooker, a centre and a f-back/winger.

What do you look for in a new player?

AE – Exceptional talent. Able to fit into the team culture on & off the field. Watch videos and them playing live, sit down and talk to them face to face.

JB – “Hunger” Players that are frustrated at their current clubs. Guys with something to prove.

Salary Cap.

JB – On the 1^st Sep every season clubs have to submit contracts to be audited and again they are audited at the end of the season to ensure they fit in within the salary cap.

We at Worcester have a similar squad size to those in the GP, 32-34 professionally contracted players with 10-15 academy contracted players.

Academy/Minis/Juniors

JB – There aren’t enough games to keep all the squads happy.

In an ideal world there would be 2 committed games every week, one 1^st team and another.

“The GP is most intense competition in the world where 1 team is relegated.”

AE – In Super 12/Super 14, that’s it, there is no 2^nd team competition or games, up here is obviously better than nothing at all.

JB- Some good players have broken through and are getting international honours too i.e. Blaze, Whatling, Mullan, Pennall, Runciman, Lennard.

There are 1 or 2 players from the current academy expecting to push into the 1^st team during the next season. “Very, very promising players”

DZ – As community development officer is heavily involved in the counties set-ups through WRFC. They have helped to develop coaches at junior clubs, taken more control over the U13, U14, U15 county squads, which are seen as the “key-age group”. Compared to other GP squads, there is a lot more going on here.

JB & AE will be taking a coaching session with the U17s before their final.

Difference between Gloucs & Worcs is that GRFC and WRFC have 2 full-time staff, however GRFC have a good community network with high quality coaches that are RFU trained. Worcestershire only has 1 part-time coach.

 GOG (Graham Munn - WWSC Chairman) - This is where the suuporters development fund will help to continue the work being done and also to help improve it for the future. This fund has now been launched.

Heineken Cup is worth reportedly £500k to the winner. Are we going for the ECC?

AE – “No”. Yes, of course we are, the players think is an extremely important competition for us this season as do the club.

If we get HC, do we need a bigger squad?

JB – No. The salary cap makes that difficult.

Quins & Leeds both went down straight after qualifying for HC, so it’s something to look at closely.

Next year, do we need to adapt a different approach to save bonus points?

JB – Virtually any team is capable of beating any team on their day, so not really.

We got bonus points at Newcastle & Leeds where we probably shouldn’t have; we also showed good tactical nous to hold onto victories vs. Irish (away) & Sarries (home).

We go to win every game home & away, but maybe we occasionally need to be more streetwise, and sometimes better decision making during the game.

Sat vs. Glaws, there was some naïve play in the last 10 mins and we did throw away a point. But, we also had 3 backs injured towards the end and ended up with Pat playing as a centre, so was always difficult to re-organise.

Why a bad 2^nd half to the season?

JB – During the 1^st half of the season we were on the right-end of the tight games. Losing 3 games over Xmas period was a big blow and since then we have struggled.

Bristol was a good performance, but overall we are inconsistent. We have not been doing anything different in preparation for either half of the season.

Player injuries this season were also mentioned:

Tim Collier – Had shoulder reconstruction. Approx 6/8 weeks away from fitness, so will be ready for pre-season.

Chris Horsman – Will be ready for pre-season.

Andre – Unlucky with injuries, only managed 6/8 games. Going back to SA EOS.

Drew – Will definitely be fit for Newcastle, outside chance of Glaws.

Shine – Fitness test today (Thursday), hasn’t done any training at all this week (Hamstring)

Referees

JB – They have a very difficult job. JB admitted to having similar views to supporters in regards to the “worst ref” this season.

We never blame the ref, if they feel the ref was wrong then feedback will be provided, likewise if they feel the ref was good.

How is Anthony finding things up here?

AE – “Fantastic” “Breath of fresh air”

Biggest struggle up here is that players seem to react & adjust faster in Australia. Things have to be explained in more detail to players up here.

Integration between backs & forwards

AE – Still needs improvements. There will be a lot of focus in the pre-season on the “general play” (outside the set-pieces). We seem to do well going forward as a whole team, but not so well defensively.

JB – Last season we were seen as “forwards-orientated”, this season we are not. Part of this season’s consistency is due to trying to vary the game. We have scored many tries through the backs (Havili 10, Drahm & Delport both 5), so we have definitely developed and are no longer seen as one-dimensional.

Who would you sign from Nat.1?

JB – Tried to sign Luke Arscott from Plymouth, but he chose Bristol, as they have a good link between the two clubs. Constantly looking at players in the lower divisions.

Fave/Least fave grounds?

JB – Franklin’s Gardens fave. (Ground is so nice and neutral, that every game must feel like an away game for Saints) Kingsholm least fave.

AE – Frankilin’s Gardens fave. Bristol least fave (“terrible place to play rugby”)

Supporter’s effect on players

JB - We have a tremendous effect on the players, especially when the game is in the balance. Friday nights at Sixways are “special”.

It’s always good to hear the Warrior’s chant away from home.

Apologies were given for the players not always coming out after each game; it’s not always the first thing that comes across the player’s or staff’s mind.

Premiership Expansion?

JB – Eventually yes, not sure when it will be though. The RFU are keen for Quins to be in the top tie and also a franchise from the South-West region.

New rules being trialled in SA, are there plans to coach that way here?

JB – Extremely unlikely that many if any changes will come into the professional game, even though they are being trialled. Even if it did happen it’s not until at least after the next world cup, so for the time being nothing will be changed here.

Many thanks to John Brain, Anthony Eddy & Dan Zaltzman for coming along and giving some of their time.

Also thanks to the club for a good variation of food. :-)