Lynn Howells mid week thoughts

During the week we took the chance to speak to busier than usual Lynn Howells, putting forward the subjects of Bedford Blues and Exeter Chiefs. The following covers post Bedford and Pre match Exeter.

“Looking back at last weekend’s result there weren’t too many positives to take out of the game, however I was very pleased with how the back three played. I thought all three of them very well. I don’t think we lost through lack of effort it was just a case of lack of application in the correct areas.
I don’t like to criticize the referee, but I honestly after the Bedford game do not understand what the referee is looking for at the scrum. It may be a lack of communication between coaches and officials, or there may be another reason but when the dominant scrum is being penalised as much as we were there must be some problem. At this stage there has to be a question asked of the referee, as when the dominant scrum is constantly penalised somewhere there is an issue.

Saying that though we didn’t deserve to win the game. That is now a throwaway statement but an honest evaluation of what we did, and why that gave an outcome on the scoreboard. We simply lost too much ball in the contact areas and there were areas of our defence that was found wanting at times. Winning possession back is a good thing, but not losing possession in the first place is much more effective in rugby. One of the few positives I thought was the way we showed at times that we have the ability to play a tight and a wide game. I think as this season has started our wide game is improving week by week which is pleasing to see.
 

What I do not want to see is our Knights team ever play like that again.

This Saturday though we go to Exeter and we need to put that loss to bed, and concentrate on the game in hand. Sandy Lane somewhere we’ve never won but after the draw at the end of last season the boys now know that if they go there and perform they are capable of getting something out of the match. One thing I have done in training this week is made the players an offer. I offered the players a chance to go out against Exeter and show me what they can do, and to show me who they are. The chance is there for the players to make amends for last Saturday, and it is as important to their own sense of self pride as it is to show the supporters what they can do.
Exeter, I think, have made it plain to everyone that this year promotion is their aim and after their pre-season and first league game last weekend it looks like they might be on track. At Sandy Lane we know it’s not going to be easy (it never is), but hopefully the squad can correct the things they did wrong last weekend and play a better game this Saturday.