The Defensive Challenges

MATCH PREVIEW

I always enjoy saying a few words to our amazing sponsors and supporters in the marquee before every home fixture. There is always a great atmosphere and I love that sense of anticipation as we get closer to kick-off.
Last Saturday, I spoke about the work we have been doing on our defence and my expectation that we would see an improvement. Some of you may have noticed that it is a challenging time to be a defence coach! Rugby attacks are operating at lightning speed, with incredibly accurate ball movement that is becoming increasingly difficult to handle. This weekend, Phil Downson of Northampton Saints referenced Mike Friday in an interview, quoting him as saying: “You can’t defend good rugby.” I think that is very much what we are witnessing at the moment.

With every player in a team, regardless of the number on their back, now capable of catching and passing to a high standard, defences are faced with 15 genuine attacking threats, alongside the challenge of covering a backfield for fifty twenty two’s. The game is evolving rapidly and we have to evolve with it.
Our game against Leicester Lions started exactly as we had planned. Two early tries put us in control, but our reaction to finding ourselves in that seemingly comfortable position is something we need to learn from. The result was the intensity in our collisions evaporated. Leicester, a team packed with National One experience and highly motivated to climb the table, took full advantage and fought their way back to level the scores.

From my perspective, what followed was a big moment. We had an attacking lineout just outside Leicester’s 22 and ran a set play that we have rehearsed hundreds of times. We failed to execute, then conceded a scrum penalty and found ourselves defending in our own 22. A sequence of lost collisions followed, culminating in Leicester’s third try. We were behind and they had the wind in their sails. To fight back and win the game is something we can be proud of. Our final defensive set lasted almost three minutes and to withstand that pressure, with everything on the line, before winning a turnover was a fantastic demonstration of this team’s resilience and determination.

However, we also recognise that we put ourselves in a position we should have avoided. If we want to continue our winning form, and secure a result away at Barnes this weekend, we must do a better job of controlling the game’s momentum and maintaining our intensity for the full 80 minutes.
We haven’t won away at Barnes for a long time, but as a group we know what it will take to come home with a result and the focus now is on delivering the performance required.

The Pilgrims ran Sevenoaks 2nd XV close at home last week, eventually losing 27–32 on the top pitch. The scoreline suggests a tight contest, but we gave Sevenoaks a 19-point lead inside the opening 15 minutes. The fight shown in coming back to challenge them was encouraging, but if we want to beat the best teams we cannot afford to give them such a significant head start.
Tomorrow, the Pilgrims travel to Heathfield and Waldron, who sit just one place above us in fourth. A positive result on the road could see us climb the table and the opportunity is there for the boys to make a statement.

MATT CORKER, HEAD COACH