Brian Dick: Sixways crowd voice their concerns

Jan 22 2009 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Post

Far be it from me to suggest the peasants are revolting at Sixways – the stewards might be but the supporters are an outstanding bunch, a credit to their club – but there are the unmistakable rumblings of discontent down Worcester way.

How do I know? Well talking to people is the first way and the second is the fans’ message board, becoming more frequently occupied with questions like ‘How serious is our position’ and ‘100 per cent committed focus for 80mins or game plans?’ There’s even a poll on the State of Worcester Rugby.

For the record, at the time of writing, the top theories were lack of motivation and problems at half back. Half as many believe there are no problems and things should be left to work themselves out.

Clearly some, I will try not to assume the most vocal speak for the majority, have concerns about the way the campaign is going but are they right?

Firstly they part with considerable amounts of money and have the right to feel and say whatever they want. It’s a pretty hypocritical journalist who argues freedom of speech is a bad thing. If they say there’s a problem then to them there is.

People who brave all weathers and pay handsomely for the dubious privilege of watching a team struggle at the foot of the Premiership don’t do so because they love a good moan, they do so because they have an affection for their team.

They want it to succeed and when it doesn’t they’re disappointed and hurt – nothing at all wrong with that.

As things stand they are tenth in the league with two games in hand on Newcastle and Bristol below them and one on Wasps above them, although Northampton might be a more attainable target. At this stage last year they were 11th without a Premiership win and just two points ahead of Leeds. But they were also top of their European Challenge Cup pool and destined for home ties in the knockout stage. That doesn’t seem likely now indeed they might even have to play their quarter final in France.

With the Mike Ruddock reign a year advanced and no little money spent on Chris Latham – and presumably Hal Luscombe – it seems only fair to ask a few questions. How serious is Worcester’s position?

It clearly has not been the campaign anyone associated with the club wanted. Victories over Wasps, Sale and Newcastle, have been undermined by quite appalling draws with the two teams below them. Indeed they left Kingston Park thankful they hadn’t been beaten.

And style wise – and it is my belief this is as much a concern to supporters as results – they are nowhere near the standard they were at the end of last term when they were one of the form sides in two competitions and had two wingers – yes wingers – linked with international recognition.

To my mind – and I am not trying to belittle what others think – the plight of Messrs Garvey and Benjamin hints at one of the reasons behind Worcester’s travails.

Both are injured, indeed they are among many players out of action.

Ask any Worcester supporter and they would say some of their key players are Pat Sanderson, Sam Tuitupou and last year’s wing kings. All four have been or are injured. Indeed Tuitupou’s absence until the end of the season could turn out to be the deepest cut of all.

Add to that the troubles they’ve had fielding the same fly half two weeks running and there has been little opportunity to establish any sort of consistency in selection and execution.

Worcester still look like a team just out of its pre-season programme with wrinkles to iron out, uncertain about defensive responsibilities and less than instinctive in attack.

The fly half position is another issue. Where they had a rejuvenated Shane Drahm dancing his way through defences in early 2008 by the end of the year such creativity and ability to improvise is but a distant memory.

When he’s fit Matt Jones is an entirely different kind of No 10 and the other three who have worn the shirt, Joey Carlisle, Loki Crichton and the now departed Eoghan Hickey, all have much to prove in that position at that level.

Drahm’s absence is massively significant when it comes to implementing the brand of heads up, running rugby that became their trademark.

The rule changes haven’t helped either. I know it’s the same for everyone and Ruddock must find a way around the denuding of the driven maul but not all clubs were starting from the same place in that respect and the tight game has been Warriors’ life support ever since they arrived in the top flight.

It is my conviction that having achieved the impossible in half a season – in turning forward oriented Worcester into an incisive and aesthetically pleasing side, Ruddock will be able to overcome the current blip.

That’s assuming he gets the time, resources and a top notch fly half to do so. Whether that fly half is already at the club I am yet to be convinced but for what it’s worth I think the coaching staff already are.