Despite Worcester’s latest defeat at the hands of a polished Northampton, the Warriors players on show can consider this a successful audition for lead roles in the club’s new era.
Steve Diamond’s appointment as Worcester’s new director of rugby was announced this week – he remains lead rugby consultant for now – and the former Sale coach begins a two-year contract this summer.
“I thought we were competitive but the scoreline doesn’t suggest that,” Diamond said after watching his team’s spirited second-half fightback, led by the captain Ted Hill and Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe, come up short.
“Our defensive frailties were evident in the first half. [But] we’ve got people who actually care about what they’re doing.
“Let’s get a bit more streetwise, a bit more understanding in our ‘D’, and I think we’ll push on.”
A breathless, scoreless opening at Sixways would have satisfied Diamond but the class of Northampton eventually began to tell. A perceptive pass by the new Wales captain, Dan Biggar, sent Sam Matavesi scorching through a midfield hole after 20 minutes.
Worcester scrambled but Northampton won a penalty and Biggar kicked for the corner. The visitors gained metres with a driving maul and Rory Hutchinson touched down. Biggar converted for 7-0.
George Skivington believes Gloucester's confidence is growing every week after they secured a fourth away win in five Premiership matches with a 32-22 success at Newcastle. The Cherry and Whites crossed five times at Kingston Park with Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit's wonder try sealing an impressive victory in a match disrupted by Storm Malik.
The match was initially due to kick-off at 3pm but adverse weather pushed it back four hours and head coach Skivington was proud of how his team coped. Gloucester, who finished 11th in the Premiership last season, are fourth after 13 games this year and their win in Newcastle marks another hurdle cleared.
"We are absolutely delighted with the win tonight. To come here and take home five points with us shows the togetherness and strength that we've got," he said. "Our away form is giving us confidence which just goes from game to game. "The team is building every week and you can see what it means to the lads even in difficult conditions tonight with the wind and the kick-off being moved but we've dealt with everything."
The Falcons head coach, Dean Richards, believes Gloucester were too streetwise for his team who maybe lacked the necessary experience in big moments. "It was a difficult game especially in the first 20 minutes and trying to adjust to playing in the wind," he said. "We probably didn't quite play as well as what we could have done in that first quarter. A couple of loose kicks and then rustiness when defending five metres from our line.
"Gloucester are a very good side and they showed that today, they showed their experience talking to the referee at stoppages and were just a little bit more streetwise – but having said all that, the referee shouldn't play a part. It didn't play a part today, it was more of our own doing more so than theirs."
The 19-year-old Worcester fly-half, Fin Smith, replied with a penalty but Northampton soon threatened again with a rousing charge forward by the dynamic No 8 Juarno Augustus.
Worcester’s Perry Humphreys was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, Biggar again kicked the for the corner, and Matavesi flopped over following another well-executed drive.
Two minutes before half-time, Saints tightened their grip when the scrum-half Alex Mitchell darted through a gap and raced over from near halfway. It was 19-3 and seemingly game over.
Biggar added a penalty seven minutes after the break but Worcester kept bashing away, and a bullocking run by Rory Sutherland soon had the crowd on their feet. Van der Merwe nearly crossed on the right wing following a rampaging break, and attacking momentum was maintained until Sutherland scored.
That brought the hosts to within 14 and when Hill charged into space on the left and was tackled just short, Sixways was rocking. Ashley Beck cantered over with 15 minutes left to reduce the deficit to nine and a thrilling finish seemed in store.
It was not to be. Another muscular lineout drive resulted in a try for the Northampton replacement, James Fish, a bonus point for Saints, and the end of Worcester’s challenge. Diamond has his work cut out but a few gems to polish up, too.
“You can’t do better than get five [points] away, so very happy with that,” said the Northampton director of rugby, Chris Boyd. “Dan Biggar continues to be the ultimate professional for us. He came out of the Welsh camp on Wednesday, trained with us Thursday, he jumps in his car now and goes back to Wales. It’s a tough gig for those guys, but that’s why they get paid the big bucks.”
