PREM RUGBY CUP AS PATHWAY FOR YOUNGSTERS
“We have shown in the last few weeks in particular the academy is really strong here in the North West and talent does come through. I think when we were playing away at Ulster a couple of weeks ago we had 17 homegrown players who had come through the academy playing in that matchday 23 squad. Obviously the Premiership Rugby Cup has been a massive part of that over the last couple of years in terms of giving those players first-team opportunities and the opportunity to put on the Sharks shirt. The further you get in the competition there is a little bit more riding on it. The players are really looking forward to this weekend and hopefully putting in a good performance and then backing it up the following week in the semi-finals which hopefully will be at home.”
LESS RELIANCE ON SOUTH AFRICANS NOW AND MORE ON HOMEGROWN TALENT?
“The South African players who have come in, the likes of the du Preez brothers, Akker van der Merwe have had a massive influence in the squad and they have been really important in bringing through that talent as well. I certainly think it’s a balance between bringing in real quality from a recruitment point of view to supplement the young talent that we have got coming through the system. Hopefully over the next few years we will see more young players coming through the system and we will keep at the core boys from the North West who have always dreamt of playing for this club. That’s the bedrock of us and that will stand us in good stead in the future.”
SAM DUGDALE
“He had a brilliant game on Friday night against Bath. He has worked really hard to develop his game over the last few years and broken into the first team squad over the last couple of years. With that he has had a few games supplemented by some games on loan to make sure he gets that sweet spot of 15-20 games per year. It’s a big block for him with the likes of Ben Curry away with England and Tom Curry currently out injured. So it’s a great opportunity for him and you saw his quality on Friday night. He has worked really hard to develop his physicality in the contact area, I think he made 28 tackles and 8 or 9 of them dominant ones. So is he of that mould and it is really exciting to see him kick on not just in the Premiership Rugby Cup over the next couple of weeks but throughout the Six Nations period and get more opportunities into the back end of the season.”
RELATIONSHIPS WITH CALDY AND SALE FC
“It’s obviously a massive part of our programme and we are seeing that sweet spot of 15-20 games for these boys as they come through. Those clubs have been really accommodating in terms of giving our players opportunities and similarly our players have loved having those opportunities with them. I think when you go on loan sometimes there is perhaps a perception at some clubs that there isn’t the buy-in but our lads love being out there. I know the likes of Elliot Gourlay has had plenty of game-time at Caldy over the last couple of years and has really thrived and developed off the back of it. Nye Thomas and Reuban Birch who have got some opportunities with Caldy. And with Sale FC it’s been pretty seamless. They play in a pretty similar way to the way we do and obviously the training ground is next door. So in terms of giving young players opportunities there it’s a pretty nice fit for us and for Sale FC as well.”
COMPOSURE FROM YOUNGSTERS AT END OF DRAMATIC VICTORY OVER BATH
“It was a bit of a nervy finish for us. I think equally with a minute and a half to go we were defending a scrum in our own half. There were probably a few decisions at the set-piece that didn’t go our way so for the boys to find a way off the back of that and for the young players, Raffi Quirke, Joe Carpenter and Arron Reed, to show the composure to execute on that edge at the most important point in the game is massive and testament to the work they put in not just out there but in training week in, week out.”
GEORGE FORD
“He is up for selection this week. So hopefully we will see him get more game-time over the next few weeks and really integrate into this squad. He has been brilliant to have around over the last couple of weeks in full training and for him to get that time under his belt and that confidence. As you can imagine he has slipped back into it pretty seamlessly and particularly around the younger group this week he probably gives that extra bit of energy and excitement to not only see him go out there but also see the influence on the team.
“It’s exciting for this group of players to play alongside George and training with the quality international players we have including George all year round has a massive influence on the younger lads in terms of the standards that they drive and also the behaviours. It will extend to beyond this week but equally this week there will be one or two lads who will be putting on a Sharks shirt for the first time and those lads they are really looking forward to playing with the likes of George.
“He’s a pretty robust individual and as you can imagine he has been very diligent with his rehabilitation. I think he is in a really good place physically and should be raring to go.”
BEN CURRY
“We were all really chuffed for Ben to get the opportunity in the wide squad initially, great to hear he has been kept on this week and hopefully that means he is line for selection this weekend. He has had a brilliant season, he has been quality for us. Even all the way through the pre-season and then into the year. He has been a massive leader for us in terms of driving standards around here. We are all hoping that he gets the nod this weekend.”
INJURY UPDATE
Hopefully likes of Dan du Preez will be back available sooner rather than later
OTHER NEWS
Great time for rugby in the North West: Sale 2nd in the Premiership, Caldy doing really well in the Championship, Sale FC top of Nat 1, Sedgley Park and Fylde doing well in Nat 2 North
Delighted for the 4 Sharks named in England Under 20’s matchday squad to play Scotland on Friday night- Tristan Woodman, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, Nye Thomas and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, cited Tristan’s outstanding performances against Loughborough and Oxford in warm-up games, Huw Davies has been with Wales Under 20’s
Players returning from injury and players needing game time means Prem Rugby Cup represents a great opportunity to find that balance between youngsters given exposure and senior players being re-integrated into the squad after injury
Prem Cup block good chance for some players to rest physically and mentally, very timely break from the Premiership
No decision taken yet as to whether Bevan Rodd or Jonny Hill will be involved on Friday, see what they need going forward, Alex Sanderson will catch up with them today
Bonus point win by margin of 29 or more points needed for a home semi-final, players have awareness of what is needed to get a home semi-final, but team won’t go too far away from normal game-model and style, perhaps a conversation might be had 50-60 minutes into game if there is a need to re-assess
Thanks again Kieran. Keep up the great work.😎