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First and foremost I would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year. It feels like an age since we last ran out at the Athletic Ground and I trust that you are all looking forward to this afternoon’s fixture as much as we are. A break over the Christmas period is always welcomed by the players as it gives the body a chance to recoup and come out refreshed for the second half of the season. 6 weeks without a game however was too long, and unfortunately for 1st division Manchester they felt the brunt of our frustration on Saturday afternoon. Yes, we were rusty at times but that was to be expected. Our physicality was outstanding, the front 5 worked tirelessly the whole afternoon and the impact of the bench was amazing. It was the perfect start to a crucial 5 week period in the season. I must also say a massive thank you to all the supporters that made the trip up north on a miserable Saturday morning, you certainly played your part in a landmark day for the club. I think everyone is looking forward to today’s derby. It’s a game steeped in history and one of the oldest fixtures in the rugby calendar. We have played Richmond twice already this season and have been on the right side of the result - but It means nothing if we don’t win today. Richmond on their day are capable of beating anyone in this league and we have a great deal of respect for them. They have pushed all the top 3 teams close this season and will throw everything in their locker at us. This is the sort of game we relish as a squad and Saturday can’t come soon enough us. If we bring the same intensity we brought to last weeks fixture. Richmond will need to be at their very best to win away from home… |
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London Scottish captain Gary Trueman says that the team are eager to get back into action after a six-week period in which the weather, fixture clashes and the festive season have limited the club to just two competitive fixtures – and both of those on the same afternoon. Saturday’s visit to Manchester in the fourth round of the EDF National Trophy will be the club’s first match since wins against Basingstoke in the same competition and Henley in the league on the Saturday before Christmas.
Trueman said, “a break over Christmas is good for everyone, it’s a good time to recoup, but I think missing two games has been a touch too much for us, you need to get playing, you need to get back. We’re training very, very well, but the difference between training and games is very big”. |
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Saturday at Rugby Lions was our wake up call. It was the first time this season we can honestly say that we weren’t the best team on the pitch. The number of unforced errors we produced coupled with an alarmingly high penalty count would have seen any team that took that field against us in with a chance of winning. The amount of possession we gifted Rugby left us under continuous periods of pressure, that and a distinct lack of urgency in both attack and defence almost cost us the game. But let’s not forget, we didn’t lose the game. We are still unbeaten and still top of the league, and when we managed to keep the ball for more than 5 phases we looked devastating.
If anything the result form the weekend could act as a blessing in disguise provided we learn from the mistakes we made at Rugby. We don’t need to change much at all, but the whole of the dressing room is now fully aware, if they weren’t already, that we have no divine right to win games. We have to put the hard work in and that is exactly what we have done this week. Training has been tough and it is exactly what we needed as a squad, the coaches pushed us hard focussing heavily on our core skills as that’s what let us down on Saturday. While the basics let the 1XV down on Saturday the opposite can be said for the 2XV who smashed 50 points passed Rosslyn Park. A top performance from the boys and a lot of selection problems now face the management.
Today we welcome Barking who held Rosslyn Park close at the weekend and will come here today wanting to kick on from their narrow defeat. I can assure you they are not going to have an easy ride. We are still reeling from Saturdays’ draw and are chomping at the bit to right our wrongs.
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