COACHES CATCH UP WITH HEAD COACH
This week, our Senior Men’s teams are on a rest week after the first block of fixtures. So we caught up with 1st XV Head Coach, George Thomas, to get his views and outlook on the first quarter of the season.
7 wins from 8 – you must be pretty pleased with how the lads have started. What’s stood out most to you?
Yes, it’s been a decent first block with plenty of room still to improve and grow. The next 2 months will really test the group, including back-to-back trips to Redruth and Camborne. In terms of what has stood out the most, I think it’s been the players’ cohesiveness and leadership on the field, how they are reacting under pressure and problem-solving. There are times when I feel almost redundant now, as the players themselves already have solutions, and the messaging from them is precise. Ben Link has led the club incredibly well both on and off the field, supported by the senior player group, and there seems to be a good atmosphere and strong culture across the senior squads-particularly the fines system (that I have also fallen foul of!).
How have the team’s performances evolved since that first fixture?
Obviously, we were disappointed with the Lymm result but it was probably what the group needed just to keep everyone grounded and focused after what we felt was a really positive summer. In terms of evolution, we’re picking up bonus points now which is a big improvement over last year and that is more about the players taking on messages and coming up with the answers themselves, the leadership group is evolving quickly and taking ownership of the challenges they face. The scorelines have been close or in deficit at half time in nearly every fixture but each week the team has come out and been very effective in the 2nd half because the lads have been able to problem solve. The changing room at half time is calm and calculated and the comms accurate. I think the other big improvement is how fit the boys are which is a massive credit to Jerry Wheadon who has had a huge impact on and off the field. For example in the last two games against Barnstaple and Cinderford the combined 2nd half scoreline has been 43-3 in our favour, our defence is still formidable but the players are now able to make repeat efforts and transition into attack that much more quickly and then be relentless until the 80th minute. We spent the summer working on getting into unstructured play and we are starting to see that come to fruition. The Taunton game also demonstrated that there is a huge amount of desire and resilience in the group, the defensive effort In the final 10 minutes, typified by TJ’s last gasp tackle out wide to stop a try and save the game was phenomenal and that result has given the squad some real belief.
Even with the wins, what areas do you still feel need tightening up?
We still need to improve our cohesion in attack, create more opportunities to get the ball to our x-factor players in space. Likewise the set-piece and in particular the lineout which, whilst good, hasn’t been perfect, certainly not the last 2 games and so there’s still an awful to work on to make sure this group can maximise its potential.
How do you approach the next block of fixtures after such a strong start?
The old cliché of taking it week by week, the same as how we’ve approached the first 8 fixtures. We look no further than the very next game, regardless of blocks, we need to ensure we give each opposition our full due diligence and respect, ensure that our review is accurate and that the team is in the best place to deliver on a Saturday. We then start again the next week. There are no easy games in this league and sitting 2nd puts a target on us, our old rivals Hinckley are up next which will be a real battle.
How do you ensure the momentum continues into the winter months?
We’ve got to try and keep things fresh and interesting for the players from a coaching point of view. We took them to play basketball on the Tuesday after Taunton for example just to change the picture and have a night off base. We are also very fortunate to be able to call upon some extremely distinguished figures and bring them into the camp at different times, for example we have another session on mental robustness and visualisation for the players this week after a really successful workshop in pre-season. The competition across the squad also means that standards have to be kept up, there are 45 lads striving to be in one of those 20 shirts on matchday. Selection is bloody difficult at the moment and there are still some big players to come back in who will only add to the group. The most important thing however is that the players enjoy it, enjoy being at the club, working hard for their mates and the fans, that’s the biggest momentum driver.
If you had to sum up the opening part of the season in one word, what would it be?
Progress
The 1st XV will be back in action at Mortimer Park on Saturday 8th of November, when they welcome Hinckley RFC to Luctonians.