Worcester without their Kiwi warrior
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:21
Worcester Warriors will be without their All Black star Greg Rawlinson for their third pre-season outing, when they face Irish province Ulster at Ravenhill, Belfast, on Wednesday.
Rawlinson, Alex Grove and Greg King were all forced out of the action in the second half - as the Warriors blitzed Moseley 73-7 at the new-look Sixways Stadium at the weekend.
Warriors Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock admitted Rawlinson could now miss the Ulster clash, however, the giant New Zealand lock is expected to be fit for the start of the Guinness Premiership season against Northampton Saints on Sunday September 7.
The good news for Ruddock’s men, as they travel to Belfast for the showdown with Ulster, is that Australia's record-breaking fullback Chris Latham could make his debut for the Warriors on Wednesday.
Latham missed the end of the Super 14 campaign for the Reds because of a ruptured pectoral muscle.
Ruddock believes his team is clicking into gear as the season looms on the horizon.
"Overall both teams we [Worcester] fielded [against Moseley] showed they were in tune with the style of rugby we are trying to achieve here at Sixways, which makes us a very attacking force to defend against," the Warriors boss said.
"We have got to be pleased but there are still areas to work on. Two negatives were the number of penalties we gave away, again we gave away more than the opposition.
"We also conceded a try so are disappointed with that. But I would give us eight out of ten for the rugby we played, we can get better."
