LEARNINGS FROM LAST SEASON
“It is multi-layered. I have learnt loads of stuff. In terms of the team where we were getting to at the end of last season is where we want to start off by ways of making good decisions in grey areas so we don’t miss opportunities to score more tries. The flip-side of that is not wearing out the big lads up front and not over-play, but understand how we can attack more effectively.”
APPROACH FOR THIS YEAR’S PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP
“I can only talk from our own point of view. I think it is a good thing (scheduling of the Prem Rugby Cup this year) and you will see better teams playing in the Cup because teams are looking to blood more of their starting XV’s whereas in the past it has been and we are still going to use these game to have a look at our young, exciting, emerging talent. We still will do that but we will also bleed, as I am sure most teams will be doing, some of the more regular first-team starters to prepare them for the start of the Premiership. I am really grateful for how they have structured the start of the season and using it during the Six Nations because it means we get more access to our best players.”
FEWER GAMES MEANS LESS ROTATION?
“There are fewer rounds but there is the hamster wheel-effect of big games consecutively week-in, week-out. Last year we didn’t look to rotate, apart from the back five of the scrum because that is where we are very strong. We now have breaks in the season due to the demise of the three clubs last season. You end up having four of five blocks of seven or eight week spells. There are 16 games through to the start of February and I think it is unrealistic to think you can play the same team through 16 games on the back of a World Cup. We know that people start to break down around eight or nine games on the bounce. You then start to modify training massively and lose form. Depending on what you draw is going into Europe there is going to have to be some tactical rotation.”
LUKE COWAN-DICKIE
“He should be good for the start of the Premiership. His metrics in terms of his strength and nerve damage in his neck are improving slowly, as they do with nerve damage. That is encouraging.
“There was a concern medically because it was flagged by the Top 14 who have stricter protocols on neck injuries. I have some experience myself having retired from a similar type of injury. So I am aware of the knock-on effects and the chronic nature of discs in your neck slipping. We wouldn’t look to endanger him and his health without doing all the due-diligence in terms of strength testing, nerve testing, psychological testing in the case of Luke Cowan-Dickie! We are really confident that he is going to make a really good comeback. He is signed for a year. At the time that was because we and him weren’t sure whether this would be the right fit and we had plans to look after Akker. Since then Akker has gone back to South Africa for personal reasons and I am happy to say that Luke has fitted in well. There are some suggestions that he might extend. But I want to get him on the field. That is the double-edged sword; you get him on the field, he plays well which he is going to do because he is a quality player and then he goes to open market. I know that we will be the first team to put in an offer. The first thing is getting him on the field and getting a few games under his belt.
“The salary cap going up next year gives us more money to potentially spend on him. But’s everyone’s salary goes up. All these young lads coming through and we have got a young demographic so it is all part of that jigsaw. We are trying to be really transparent with the players about that; there is only so much money in the pot, this is where you fit in. Ultimately they are going to get paid more in France, we know that, or Japan. So we have to be able to provide the infrastructure and support that is greater and has a non-monetary value that makes them want to stay in the country. That and the RFU need to contribute.”
LOSING AKKER BUT REPLACING HIM WITH CREEVY
“Unbelievably lucky for Agustín, a player of his quality, to fall into our lap. He is a great, mature lad who I am going to learn a lot from. He quite wisely delayed any signing of a contract because he wanted this, which he perceives to be his last year being 38, to be one of his best. Not just from an enjoyment, cultural point of view which we pride ourselves on here, you have got to have fun. Also by ways of what you are doing on the field as well as succeeding. He believes we have a squad, as Luke does, that can step on from last year.”
INTEGRATING INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS BACK IN
“I have thought about it. I have had some decent experience during my days at Saracens. It has to be individualised depending on where they are at physically, how many games they have played, and mentally. The two lads coming back (Jonny Hill and Jean-Luc du Preez) it is all about the mental side. These guys are fit and have played a game. Because of the intensity of the environments they have been in will be at a higher level than the boys here. For those two boys it is purely mental. There is a long stretch of games coming up and if four or five games in they are finding it difficult to get into a live scrum or maul session because they have had a bit too much rugby over the summer then it is a bit of a disaster. Then you are having to motivate them and they have to motivate themselves as well. It becomes hard.
"They both rang me up and asked what the deal was on time off. I asked them how much. I said to them I wanted them to turn up and want to come back in. There is bitter disappointment to get over but there is also a re-alignment. I just want them to come in and love coming in, not coming in because they feel like they have to. Those two lads had different times off. They have both dipped their heads in and spoken to the lads. They know we are enjoying ourselves and working hard. Jonny has had nine days off so he is back in tomorrow (Wednesday 6th September) for screening. He is one of the fittest in England camp so he will come back in flying. JL played for the Barbarians a few weeks ago and has had two weeks off. He had a little bit less time off at the end of last season so he wanted a little bit more time which I am fine with as he will come back in strong and happy.
“The other lads I have got to track them in the World Cup. I have experience back in 2015 at Saracens when England got knocked out in the group stages. You would have thought the players would have come back in broken. That was one of the best years I had at Saracens because they were so motivated to prove that they were better than what they showed at the World Cup. It could go one of a few ways depending on how England perform. I hope England perform well. We will take it as we find it.”
INJURY UPDATE
Cobus Wiese and Daniel du Preez- should be good for the back-end of the Prem Rugby Cup, Cobus is looking big and strong, games 3, 4 or 5 could be where we see Cobus and Dan
Raffi Quirke- in the session today (Tuesday 5th September), first proper, hard rugby session back, up for selection depending on how he reacts to training
OTHER NEWS
Plan in place for selection during Prem Rugby Cup games but there is a need to be flexible, giving players opportunity but also getting players up to speed
Ernst van Rhyn is “big, strong and very, very good”, good to go
Weekly updates medically from England camp regarding Sale’s players in the England World Cup squad
Learning from the final last season, watching clips, if you can’t take failure you are in the wrong sport/ business
If you play the same team every week you will be burnt out by Christmas
Excited by restructuring of the schedule
Feelers have been put out for friendlies/ exhibitions matches during Six Nations, depending on progress in Prem Rugby Cup, Barbarians and Super Rugby teams want to play at the start of that break in February but that is when the team needs a rest, good relationships with local clubs like Doncaster so could be live scrums and mauls
Spoke glowingly about James Harper and two young second rows (presumably Ben Bamber and Alex Groves)
Good blend of youth and experience
AJ Bell Stadium is where the club wants to be for the long-term, club is getting more scope to improve the matchday experience for the fans
Al has got into Finnish philosophy- Sisu, how to deal with challenges in the face of great adversity
Worked with special forces during pre-season
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