Hill ready for a fight at Worcester

The talk is over - let the bruising begin. Bristol Rugby’s big guns have been unleashed in full contact training this week to prepare them for their contest at Worcester.

The Guinness Premiership’s bottom club return to league action with another key match up at Sixways, a match up head coach Richard Hill believes will be won by the more physical side.

The Bristol boss has drawn criticism for wrapping his first-team in cotton wool and withdrawing them from the front line for the club’s European Challenge Cup distraction - resulting in a record European defeat at Northampton.

But come the return of Premiership action he has been pushing his troops in a bid to regain the intensity required to win matches.

“Sometimes you've got to sacrifice a few bumps and bruises and maybe the odd injury to get that level of physicality,” said Hill. “That's why this week several of the sessions have been full on contact. I can sense that the players are ready for that on the weekend.

"We take a bit of criticism sometimes but you've got to remember its a nine month season and it's a marathon not a sprint.

"So far we've managed in the last three or four years in the Premiership to give our senior players a week off here or there so that when we come into February March and April, when the season will be won or lost for us, our players are mentally and physically fresh.”

Despite the precautions, club captain Joe El Abd has already been lost to injury and the team’s freshness will be tested to the full on Saturday against a side who could join the relegation fight if they fail to capitalise on home matches against first Bristol then Newcastle.

And Hill is hoping to capitalise on the pressure building at Sixways by firing on all cylinders from the off.

He said: "What we've got to do this weekend is take both second half performances against London Irish in the Premiership and Northampton in the European Challenge Cup and we've got to start well against Worcester. We cannot afford to start slowly.

Bristol failed to get out of the blocks against London Irish and Gloucester and were punished accordingly.

"If you start slowly there with the atmosphere they can generate and the intensity they've got in their players we can be well behind at half-time again,” he added.

Wing Lee Robinson returned to form in the 25-21 defeat at home to Northampton last weekend which almost saw the club snatch victory after trailing 20-9 at half-time and made no bones about how the club are viewing their trip to Worcester.

“We need to look at it as man versus man,” he said.

Bristol to face Latham - the one that got away

Bristol Rugby will come face to face with Aussie ace Chris Latham at Worcester on Saturday - and rue the fact he could have been running out in Blue and white.


The Australian international, widely recognised as one of the best full backs in the world, joined the Warriors last summer but only after considering a very healthy offer from Bristol.


The club were reported to have put a £350,000-a-year contract on the table to tempt the four-time Super 12 Player of the Year into Test retirement before Worcester jumped the queue for his signature, Sixways proving the bigger draw.


And the Wallabies’ second-highest try scorer, and veteran of three World Cup Finals, has recovered from a recent injury in time for what could turn out to be a cricital bottom-of-the-table clash.


"He's an outstanding player,” said Bristol head coach Richard Hill. “It's typical he's fit for us. It's like Jonny Wilkinson. He always comes back for Newcastle just at the time Bristol play them.


“He cost them an absolute fortune but I think he's one of the overseas players who has contributed to that club. You can see that everybody gets a buzz off him and plays a lot better around him.


"We did talk to him to come to Bristol at one stage but Worcester beat us to the punch unfortunately. He's someone I would have very much liked to be here.”


Worcester have spent heavily in their bid to break into the top six of the Guinness Premiership. As well as Latham they have added All Blacks Rico Gear and Greg Rawlinson yet remain in the wrong half of the table, two results away from another relegation battle.


“They've always been a team threatened with relegation,” said Hill. “They've done well to battle out of it and they've spent a huge amount of money. But they find themselves in the bottom six again and dragged into almost a relegation battle.


"It's a crucial time for them and a lot of pressure on them as they've got us and then after Christmas they've got Newcastle at home. They've got to win these two home games because you can imagine if they lost these next two home games they're suddenly right in it as the rest of the fixture list looks pretty grim.”


Bristol winger Lee Robinson was behind a much improved second-half performance against Northampton last weekend which gave Hill renewed hope.


"(Hill) doesn't give out too much praise to me,” revealed Robinson. “But when it does come it’s very satisfying.


“We had a good telling off at half time and it made the difference really,” added Robinson, who hopes to start on Saturday at Sixways against a side which has undergone significant change.


“Worcester are a very physical well-drilled team but recently they've added a lot of superstars to their side,” he said. “I think they're more of a handfull than we used to perceive them as.


“We've got a World Cup winner and a few internationals here though. The scalp is definitely there for the taking."

Bristol skipper El Abd facing three months out

Bristol Rugby's season has taken a further knock with the news that captain Joe El Abd will be out for at least three and a half months – although his loss could be negated by a new signing.
Head coach Richard Hill has lost his leader until April at the earliest, but has been boosted by the return to first-team action of prop Jason Hobson and the prospect of a new recruit in the next 48 hours.
Hill refused to give any further details on the reinforcement until the deal is set in stone, having already seen the transfer of centre Nathan Brew collapse at the 11th hour this season.
Any transfer activity is welcome news for the Bristol Rugby fans though, given speculation over the financial viability of the club and Hill confirmed he still has the ability to bring players in if needed.
"We have to wait until the signatures are on the bit of paper but we hope to strengthen the squad, which is good news and a good sign for the club," said Hill.
The bad news is El Abd's bicep, torn in Bristol's 25-21 European Challenge Cup defeat at the Memorial Stadium last weekend, will rule him out for most of the season.
"If you ask Joe he'll say seven days," said Hill. "But the consultants tell us that, after the operation, it's going to be three months before he's available.
"He could be back at the beginning of April, maybe a little bit earlier because Joe is a good healer. There could be six matches there he could be playing in at a crucial stage of the season – I think it might go down to the last game."
Scrum-half Shaun Perry will captain the side in El Abd's absence when Bristol Rugby take on Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday. And the England international is one of a trio of senior players earmarked to fill the void left by the club's latest patient.
"We're expecting Perry, (Mark) Regan and (Robert) Sidoli to stand up at the front and be leaders," said Hill, who also pinpointed Hobson's timely return from a neck injury.
"Hobson is raring to go," he said. "He and (Mariano) Sambucetti will offer the hard edges of the pack.
"Both are very combative, very abrasive players and they'll both be picked because we'll need to have some tough characters up at Sixways. We need players who are going to stand toe to toe and win that physical battle."
Bristol Rugby (from): Backs: L Arscott, G Barden, G Beveridge, N Brew, E Barnes, L Eves, A Jarvis, D Lemi, S Perry, L Robinson. Forwards: N Budgett, A Clarke, D Crompton, J Hobson, S Linklater, R Pennycook, J Phillips, M Regan, M Sambucetti, R Sidoli, A To'oala, D Ward-Smith.

Salter - On defeat and apologies

Barden back to join Bristol's fight

Greg Barden is back from England Sevens duty and sharing his newly-honed one-on-one skills with his under-fire Bristol team-mates.

The fleet-footed player, who is on sabbatical from the Royal Navy, has had a successful few weeks on the international scene, making his debut for England and rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in Sevens world rugby – all valuable experience which he hopes to transfer to the training pitches of Bristol.

The England team came within seconds of victory in Dubai, losing out to a last-minute try from South Africa, and won the Plate in George after again being beaten by the South Africans, this time in the quarter-finals.

Barden and fellow Bristol flyer Matt Turner did themselves proud and are hopeful of recalls to the side for the 2009 legs in Wellington and San Diego.

First though comes domestic duties in less sunny climes, and the long, cold fight to haul their other paymasters to safety.

"When you're with England you concentrate on that," said the centre. "But Bristol is my main aim now.

"It was a great couple of weeks away. It gives you massive confidence, that one-on-one ability in attack and defence. The whole experience and the atmosphere out there in Dubai and South Africa is a step up as an individual. But I'm looking to get back in the team here and take it on."

England are now third on points behind New Zealand and South Africa, the only two full-time teams on the series, while Bristol remain rooted to the foot of the Guinness Premiership.

The club have the chance to erase the memory of their 66-3 loss last week in the return European Challenge Cup fixture this Sunday against their tormentors Northampton. And they have been working hard in training to ensure a return to form ahead of their return to Premiership action against Worcester.

"I know the boys are gutted and you only have to look at the atmosphere on the training paddock and the determination to see what the boys want to do," said Barden, reflecting on the 66-3 humiliation endured in his absence.

"It was unfortunate, but I'm sure we'll bounce back and put things right."

Barden will have to wait to play his part, omitted from tomorrow's 22, but his return to the training pitch can only have helped test the Bristol defence in Friday's team run.

Turner is also absent for this particular battle. The youngster has been given the chance to remain in South Africa for Christmas with his family and has earned his rest, according to his 27-year-old team-mate.

"He joined us for the South African leg and I think he's working hard on his tan now," said Barden. "He did really well. His first cap was against New Zealand. We were a bit under the cosh in that one but on the second day he scored some great individual tries and I think Bristol will look forward to when he gets back in the New Year."

In the meantime Barden, whose only start for Bristol has come in the European Challenge Cup, will be hoping he can bring some attacking flair from the sunshine of the Sevens' pitches to the frozen turf of England and force his way into a side in need of results.

Only five of the fated 15 who started last week have retained their places for Sunday. Tom Arscott, Luke Eves, Mark Irish, Dave Attwood and Matt Salter have been given the chance to make amends.

They may have shipped 10 tries against Northampton but they avoided any injuries and the squad is also boosted by the return to training this week of Junior Fatialofa and Jason Hobson.

Bristol: L Arscott; T Arscott, N Brew, L Eves, D Lemi; E Barnes, S Perry; M Irish, D Blaney, D Crompton, D Attwood, R Sidoli, M Salter, J El-Abd (c), D Ward-Smith. Replacements: S Linklater, A Clarke, N Budgett, A To'oala, G Beveridge, A Jarvis, L Robinson.

French connection can help Bristol's great escape

Bristol will be plotting their own great escape from the Guinness Premiership drop zone with help from the French national team in the new year.

Les Bleus coaches Emile Ntamack and Didier Retière joined Bristol for training ahead of Sunday's European Challenge Cup rematch with Northampton at the Memorial Stadium.Here to observe Bristol's training methods and consult with the club's management, assistant coach John Brain believes linking up with France could be beneficial.

"I think they found it very worthwhile," he said. "We've been invited back there if we want to look at the way the French national team run and I think that's something we'll take advantage of.

"They wanted to have a look at the environment here and we talked to them about the game as coaches.

"It was a very interesting visit. We shared a few ideas with them. I think they found it useful and so did we."

Brain admitted the club have been honest this week after reviewing last Saturday's 66-3 drubbing at Northampton.Bristol have retained only five players – wing Tom Arscott, centre Luke Eves, prop Mark Irish, second row Dave Attwood, and blindside flanker Matt Salter – from the team that lost at Franklin's Gardens.

Brain added: "We're all in this together but there were quite a few players on that field who let themselves down a bit.

"We've done a little bit of soul searching. We're not planning on getting beat by that margin in the Premiership and we did field what many people would regard as an under-strength team – but we didn't expect to lose by 10 tries to nil."

Bristol return to Premiership action a week today at Worcester, and Brain believes the Memorial Stadium outfit must prioritise league survival above everything else.

"The European Challenge Cup is a very good competition," he said."But you have to be realistic and say that our chances of progressing are probably non-existent so we've just got to make sure we get our game in order.

"We've got to get back to playing well and winning and I expect we'll perform a lot, lot better."

Turner's prize for Hereford promotion

As chairman, director of football, and manager of Hereford United, Graham Turner is wholly responsible for the performance of the club, which is why his admirers – Hereford fans or not – have voted him the Blackthorn Western Daily Press Sports Personality 2008.

Turner endured a nine-year exile from the Football League with the Bulls, but last May he celebrated the club's remarkable return to the renamed third tier of English football (League One), just two seasons after escaping the Conference.

And if football chairmen ever need instruction on whether to stand by their man, they should use him as a case study, or call him, for he is a man on a self-confessed "crusade for stability".

"I sometimes think I am almost flying the flag for continuity in football clubs," said the man whose longevity in management with Hereford is only currently surpassed by Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure at Manchester United.

"It is very easy to sack managers," he added. "There is no doubt that at some time a manager deserves to be replaced, but I do think clubs chop and change managers too readily. I sometimes think we lose very good talent that way. Don't sack the manager too readily."

The former Shrewsbury and Aston Villa boss twice handed in his resignation at Edgar Street – once when Hereford were relegated to the Conference and again five seasons later after having bought the majority share-holding.

The board refused on both occasions, kept faith and now enjoy a community club which is financially stable and fit to fight for survival in League One.

"I'm sure the long-suffering supporters who've spent a lot of time going round the Conference clubs and their grounds are now finding it a lot better going to the likes of Leeds, Leicester and MK Dons," said Turner.

"Thank you very much for the award, it's very much appreciated. It's recognition for the club's and the players' achievements over the past 12 months. We've had a terrific time, not only last season, but the promotion from the Conference. I think it was a tremendous achievement for the club."

After twice experiencing play-off defeats in the Conference, Turner only let this year's celebrations begin once automatic qualification to League One was a mathematical certainty – "at quarter to five at Brentford when we finally achieved it".

He said: "I think you are always concerned. What we didn't particularly want was for it all to go to the end of the season. It was nice to get it over and done with as early as possible.

"Second half of the season we began to think we had a chance. We'd looked at every other side in the league and there was nothing to fear in there. We'd done quite well against most of the sides around us at the top of the table and you start having the vision that maybe this is our season."

And so it was. Away defeats at Lincoln and Peterborough kept fans sweating, but a 2-0 win over Wrexham at Edgar Street and an inspired 3-0 victory at Brentford ensured promotion with a game to spare, a victory at home against Grimsby.

"The open top bus tour and things like that for players and supporters who have not seen those sort of things very often was a terrific occasion," said Turner.

"We need to survive now in first division football. We'd like to make sure we are playing the sort of clubs next season that we're playing this season, so we are prepared to push the boat out a little bit but within the confines of sensible financial restrictions on the club and good football governance. We have to be realistic."

Realism of the brutal kind is what has tied Turner to the club. In what he refers to as "the dark days", and only three seasons into his management tenure, he bought into the club, became chairman, and literally put his money where his mouth was.

It has taken years, but he and the club's board are finally seeing the fruits of their labours. "We said at the time when we bought the shares it would take a little bit of time, that we needed to sort the finances out, get the club on a firm footing," said Turner.

"And we've done that. Financially we're fairly stable. I know there are a lot of clubs who are finding the going difficult in the credit crunch but we're okay.

"I think it probably does help (being chairman, director of football and manager). It's easy to get in trouble. It's easy to pay more money than you can afford. I know exactly what the scene is financially.

"When we had a period where money was that tight we signed cheques, but didn't know where the money was coming from.

"If there was no money left at the end of the month, the people who didn't get paid were the company secretary and myself."

Next on Turner's agenda is the Edgar Street stadium, a rapidly ageing ground in need of an overhaul. With Hereford the town in line for a 100-acre redevelopment, Hereford the football club is working closely with the council with a view to a new stadium.

Until then Turner will continue to work the loan system which helped him achieve promotion last season and on which the club's budget relies.

This season he has brought the likes of UEFA Cup winner and former France international Bruno N'Gotty and England Under-21 goalkeeper Matt Murray to Edgar Street. Both loans have ended in injury but their arrivals give an indication of movement in the right direction, and the right man being at the helm.

"Last season the loan system worked very well for us," said Turner. "We had some outstanding players who contributed a lot. This season that hasn't happened quite so much because players have got injured. Although we're in a little bit of a precarious position at the moment, I still think and I'm very confident we will get ourselves out of trouble.

"It was great to have someone of that standard (N'Gotty) come to the club. He was very quiet but he made defending look easy. He was absolutely immense.

"When you get players of that calibre come to the club the other players sit up and take notice."

And for the future? "For a well-run club that's got a firm base there's no reason not to be optimistic about playing in the Championship. I take encouragement from Colchester, they had a spell in the Championship, Southend had a spell in the Championship. You take that encouragement and set your sights as high as you can.

"I'm not stupid, I'm not naive. That is a tall order to be in contention for promotion. First of all we've got to find our feet in this league and to do that we've got to survive this season."

But will he be the man to take them there? He has had a taste of the top-flight with Aston Villa and has more than served his time in the lower leagues since then, leaving an inevitable desire to raise the bar one more time.

"I don't know," he said. "I've said before I would like to have a go at a higher level. I'm not going to get a big club, I realise that. But maybe something I can take on.

"But at the moment I am totally committed to this club, totally committed to the cause of ensuring that we stay in the first division, ensuring that we progress as a club and ensuring the facilities in the ground are in keeping with modern-day supporter demands and making it far more comfortable for them to come and watch their football."

By his own admission, it could take five, six or seven years before parts of the stadium are improved. And if that means Turner remains in charge in the meantime, the Hereford fans might just be prepared to wait for their heated seats and gourmet pasties.

Big names back in as Hill gets tough at Bristol

Richard Hill has wielded the axe in an attempt to avoid a repeat of Bristol Rugby's embarrassing defeat at Northampton in Sunday's return fixture at the Memorial Stadium.

The head coach, who saw a second-string side hammered 66-3 at Franklin's Gardens last weekend, is bringing back his first team for the European Challenge Cup match.

The Bristol boss, whose team are three points adrift of Newcastle at the bottom of the Guinness Premiership, had hoped to field his fringe men again to give them game-time and reduce the risk of injury to those upon whose shoulders the club's Premiership survival rests.

But he has been forced to recall Ed Barnes, David Lemi and Shaun Perry to his backs, while bolstering his pack with Robert Sidoli, Alfie To'oala, Dan Ward-Smith and club captain Joe El Abd.

And seasoned Bristol campaigner Matt Salter, who captained the side last weekend, believes Hill has rung the changes not just because of the record European defeat but with a view to re-establishing some consistency ahead of their next Premiership match at Worcester.

"There's been chopping and changing between competitions and the first team have been mainly playing the Premiership games," said the former club captain. "I think it doesn't build much continuity in the squad, and leading into the game against Worcester we need to give these guys a run-out and play them.

"And after a team gets beaten by 66 points, obviously there are going to be people that paid the price."

Of those who started at Franklin's Gardens, Vunga Lilo, Kevin Maggs, Anthony Elliott, Peter Bracken, Mariano Sambucetti and James Phillips have been dropped. Salter retains his place in the squad and insists it is the players, not the management, who should take responsibility for the result.

"Since I've been involved with the club, it's the biggest defeat we've ever had," he said. "Obviously we had every intention of playing well and pushing on from reasonable performances over the last few weeks but sometimes it doesn't go your way and no one else but the players can hold their hands up for it.

"I'm sure all the boys who played against Northampton will want to put the record straight.

"Unfortunately some of them haven't been given the chance – some of them probably deserve the chance – but this club needs to put in a good performance at home.

"I think you've got to put out possibly what you believe is your best squad and that's what we've done."

Salter added Bristol need to deliver on the field when the Saints visit Bristol this weekend and said words are no replacement for performances.

"People don't realise how much of what goes on on-the-field is down to the players," said the flanker. "And when a performance is poor, similar to ours on the weekend, then it's up to the players to either put it right the next week or apologise.

"But an apology makes no difference. It doesn't matter until you play your next game and put it right. Words are cheap really."

Bristol (provisional squad): Backs – L Arscott, T Arscott, G Barden, E Barnes, G Beveridge, N Brew, L Eves A Jarvis, D Lemi, S Perry, L Robinson. Forwards – D Attwood, D Blaney, N Budgett, A Clarke, D Crompton, J El-Abd, M Irish, S Linklater, R Pennycook, M Salter, R Sidoli, A To'oala, D Ward-Smith.

Sweeney on agents, contracts and Bradley Orr