Who Should We Emulate?

Lots of fans, players and even management make constant reference to the Warriors “needing” to be like Exeter Chiefs.  But I don’t agree, I think we need to set our sights higher!

Cast your memory back to the last game of the 2004/5 Zurich Premiership, Warriors at home to Northampton Saints. 8,500 fans turned up to watch the likes of Delport, Rasmussen, Windo, Gillies and Sanderson take on, the then fellow relegation contenders, Saints.  We won that game 21-19 thanks to tries by Raz, Powell and Hickey, finished the season in 9^th place and watched in relief as Harlequins were relegated.

The following season we bettered that finish coming in joint 7^th (8^th).  It looked like we were in the Premiership to stay and that we were progressively getting better.

In the 2006/7 season Northampton Saints found themselves in our current position – last. Ending the season in bottom place 1 point behind us, having finished in 11^th place.  A 9-10 away victory, on New Year’s Day 2007, at Franklins Gardens proved the decisive result.  This should have kicked us into gear to progress up the league and could, easily have ruined the Saints – it would appear it had the opposite affect – on both teams.

The relegated Saints squad included the likes of Diggin, Cohen, Spencer, Thompson and Hartley.  After a successful season in National Division 1, winning both the league and the cup, Northampton have gone on from strength to strength.

Building a squad, bringing on youth and building on a winning culture around the club Saints have won or contested for silverware in every season since their relegation.

THIS is what we want to emulate.

In the same period we have lost top talent, such as Wood, Kitchener, Benjamin, Kvesic, Mullan, been relegated twice and won promotion once, but not really contested for anything higher than the relegation battle in the Premiership or group stage European rugby.

Yes Exeter have a sound business model, Yes they have taken on the premiership and pushed for European glory, but in 8 year’s time would I rather we had followed the Chiefs route or the Saints route?  The statistics speak for themselves:

Northampton Saints, since being promoted back to top tier rugby:

2008/9

Guiness A League Winners

Amlin Challenge Cup Winners

2009/10

Anglo-Welsh Cup Winners

2010/11

Heineken Cup Runners Up

2011/12

Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners Up

2012/13

Aviva Premiership Runners Up

2013/14

Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners Up

Amlin Challenge Cup Winners

Aviva Premiership Winners

Right now we can only dream of club honours anything like those of Saints, but they have proved it is possible, following relegation, to climb to the top.

Retaining the likes of Creevy, Thomas and Pennell was a massive step in the right direction.  Signing experienced and exciting players like Sanderson, Mulchrone, Biggs and Mills shows that the club are pushing, they are serious about becoming a top club. 

Nick Johnston could be our key man for finally becoming the big club we all know the Warriors can be.  He has been there and done it.  Johnston joined Saints in 2008 and has been part of the revelation that are now, Aviva Premiership Champions - Northampton Saints.

Can we look forward to back to back Premiership finals in 2021?  If so, it will, in part be down to the clubs desire to bring in talent, expand the academy and create a winning rugby culture.  Should it happen then not only can we look forward to teams like Toulon and Leinster coming to Sixways we can look forward to having one of the best grounds in English rugby.  Get the results, bring in the fans and the Sixways 20/20 plan will be completed – 20,000 seats by 2020.

We are 1 year into a 5 year plan, I think we need to look further ahead, going 1 better than the Chiefs and doing it the Saints way.

What Happened to the 2013/14 Season?

Well in terms of my blog, nothing!  Could I think of anything positive to say? No.  Could I think of anything interesting to say? No.  Will it be any different this season?  I think so!

I was recently asked by the Worcester Observer for my opinions on last season, but as I was only asked 3 questions and had only 120 words to answer so thought I would expand a bit in this blog.  Then for me that is closure on the 2013/14 Worcester Warriors season.

This is what I was asked:

"When did Warriors look doomed?

After our defeat to London Irish as we still had Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Bath and Saracens to play.

Best away performance?

If we had stayed up it would have been our vital away win against Newcastle Falcons, but as we did not then it has to go to our display at Harlequins where we secured a losing bonus point.

What needs to improve next season?

Our defence. Bristol have shown you can finish top of the Championship by saying ‘no matter how many you score we will score more’, but I am unsure whether that will get you through the play-off system."

I few other fans were asked different questions, this is what my response would have been if I was asked:

Favourite game at Sixways?

Gloucester. Not because we beat our local rivals but because we finally won a game at home.  We could have been playing against the lowest side in professional rugby and it still would have been my favourite game as it prevented us going a whole season without a home league win.

Try of the season?

Andy Symons break, away to Falcons, signaled his arrival in the team and created our first win of the season.  For quality of try I would probably go with David Lemi's try resulting from Chris Pennell's amazing off load.

Unsung hero?

Percy.  Chris Pennell has been outstanding, Mike Williams has been one of many young players to break into the team, but James Percival still plays every minute of every game as if it is his last!

Match to forget?

Home to Falcons. Offy Report Having already lost at home to Irish this was a game that needed a massive performance.  We didn't even get a performance.  One of the worst games I have ever seen at Sixways!

Star player?

Looking past Chris Pennell then Mike Williams.  Arrived at the club as an unknown lock but has ended the season as young player of the season and as our outstanding back row forward for 2013/14

What to expect in the Championship?

Hard fought run to the final.  Past this, due to the nature of the play off lottery I cannot predict.  I do expect to see Dean Ryan's vision start to come through, but only if our front row is up to the challenge.

Biggest disappointment?

The front row.  Even Creevy did not quite make the impact I did hope for, but being out so long with injury did not help that.  Obviously not having a reliable 10 all season had massive impact.  If any one single thing could have been changed from last season it would have been to retain or bring in a 10 of Goode's quality to kick 200+ points for us.  This above anything else would have prevented our relegation.

Proudest moment?

When the rest of the country finally accepted what Warriors fans have known for a few seasons, that Chris Pennell is a top class full back and that he is of England pedigree.

Three players to watch next season?

Mike Williams - can only get better, could have secured the 6 shirt but with the quantity of back row players coming in we may see him play a few more games at lock.

Tom Biggs - Quality!  Simple as that.  Will score bag loads of tries in the Championship

Charlie Mulchrone - A very experienced Championship scrum-half, captained his side to the semi-finals, knows how the league works and will have plenty of "inside information" when it comes to the big games.

So they are my thoughts on last season, a season to forget, but with some positives:

1. Chris Pennell

2. Mike Williams

3. Andy Symons

We say goodbye to a lot of players, as per previous seasons:

Jon Andress

Jeremy Becasseau

Ed Shervington

Chris Brooker

Euan Murray

Chris Jones

Mariano Galarza

Dean Scofield

Semisi Taulava

Danny Gray

Jon Clarke

Josh Matavesi

David Lemi

Paul Warwick

Paul Hodgson 

We say hello to even more:

Andries Pretorius

Matt Cox

Ryan Mills

G J Van Velze

Charlie Mulchrone

Joe Rees
Heath Stevens
Sam Smith
Niall Annett
Ben Sowrey
Dan Sanderson
Nick Schonert
Tom Biggs
Ryan Bower
Dan George
Darren O'Shea
Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier

Yes it is all change again, just like last season, but the key difference this time is that for each man leaving we have a better, or potentially better, replacement.

Come On You Warriors!