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'It's that going to war mindset': Worcester hit out at complacency
Jonathan Thomas has made a startling observation about his Worcester team, suggesting that a club with just a single win on the pitch in the Gallagher Premiership since last November somehow suffered from “a small form of complacency” in last weekend’s derby loss at home to Worcester. The Warriors broke their long barren, winless run with a start-of-campaign success over London Irish, but they have since lost to Harlequins and Gloucester.
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While the loss away to the defending champions in London was accompanied by a battling performance that netted two bonus points to give them a seven-points-from-ten tally for the season after two games, this Worcester momentum was brutally checked by their 31-23 Premiership defeat to Gloucester, a team that came into round three of the league on the back of two defeats.
The outcome left Thomas bruised and very busy at the Worcester training ground this week in the hope that a far better performance materialises this Saturday away to Exeter, a team likely to feast on any sense of vulnerability shown by the club that finished the 2020/21 season at the bottom of the table.
“Why weren’t we on it? You could argue it was a slight form of complacency which clearly shouldn’t have been the case – we had only played two games and we’d won one and lost one,” reflected Thomas, who has just started his first full season as Worcester head coach having only stepped into the role last January and overhauled the squad he inherited. “I know it was seven out of ten points but you could argue we thought everything was hunky and rosy and Gloucester, off the back of two losses, maybe there was a subconscious complacency from our players. I don’t know.”
Asked by RugbyPass to elaborate on what the signs of incriminating Worcester complacency were visible in their third outing in the new Premiership campaign, Thomas continued: “Complacency is a subjective thing. Our players trained well last week, they have got a massive intent and desire to do well for the club but when you look at the game in terms of certain acts such as linespeed, collisions, 50/50s in the air, 50/50s on the floor, a lot of the scraps you usually find in the derby game, Gloucester won quite a few of those.
"I don’t understand it and I don’t get it…"
– So frustrated are Worcester over Ted Hill's 3️⃣ game ban that they plan to lobby World Rugby about the tip tackle law#Worcester #England #WORvGLOhttps://t.co/rfNc4TtUBg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 6, 2021
“That brings you as a coach to a summary that they [Gloucester] just wanted it that little bit more and where it is a learning for our players is the game is always about being in the right place emotionally and being physical. It doesn’t matter what style of game you play, wherever you are in the world, whatever opponent, you have got to emotionally be in the right place and be physical and have a real intent around your mindset. I’m not saying we didn’t have that, I am just saying they had that a little bit more so we have just got to make sure we are really hungry every single time we play, every single time we go on the field.
“It has been a good pre-season, we have had a reasonable start to the season and it is just a little kick up the backside for us. In any game in this league, you can get humbled by any team and that is a harsh reminder for us. There is absolutely no way you ever go into a game with thoughts of complacency but I always found it fascinating in the old format of the Heineken Cup where you got those back-to-back games in December, you play home and away and there were so many occasions where a team that won away from home then lost at home the following week. You just look at that and go, ‘How the hell has that happened?’
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“It’s all about mindset and not getting complacent and it’s about being always on edge and that mindset that you are going to war. It’s that going to war mindset – you have to have that at all times and Gloucester, off the back of two losses, were clearly unbelievably hungry for that game. You can talk about tactical and technical parts of the game but the reality is the game sits with the mindset and we need to take our learnings from that and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
"Specialists were saying, ‘Never think about rugby again, forget about rugby, think about having a normal life’."
– New Worcester prop Rory Sutherland, the recent Lions pick, has come a long way in five years writes @heagneyl 👨💻#Lions #Warriors #EXEvWORhttps://t.co/LDRIKJHcSk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 8, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
South Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to comments