Slick surface will ensure a spectacle at Sixways
CARL Hogg believes Worcester’s new plastic pitch, allied to revised laws encouraging a faster game, will enable them to fulfil their potential.
As in Super Rugby, teams will be encouraged to play the ball away from scrums and mauls more quickly, which in theory should favour clubs with artificial surfaces.
Hogg, right, who took over as Worcester head coach following Dean Ryan’s shock departure, told The Rugby Paper: “There’s an emphasis to play away from the setpiece and encourage a multi-faceted game, which should help the spectacle.
“Your general public don’t necessarily want to watch re-scrum after re-scrum or endless mauling so the revised laws will quicken up the game. “We’ve got to get up to speed quickly on our new pitch and adjust certain technical and tactical aspects of our game, but it should certainly give us a home advantage. “It’s a great surface and although it does change the nature of the game, it will help us. “We want to play with high tempo, ball in hand, and it will be conducive to that, so I expect us to be very competitive throughout the season.”
Hogg is relishing his first crack at a top job.
He said: “I had no inkling Dean was on his way out. I’ve known him a long time and it was unexpected, but that’s sport, things change.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me. It’s been a long journey and I’ve been 10-12 years as an assistant coach in the Premiership, but I’m ready for what it throws at me and scrutiny and accountability are part and parcel of the job.”
Pre-season injuries to Springbok flanker Dewald Potgieter, Kiwi centre Bryce Heem and full-back Chris Pennell are a concern but Hogg believes Worcester will cope.
He added: “Last year we got ourselves stable in the Premiership and it’s now about developing on those strong foundations.
“We’ve got a strong squad, with guys like Darren Barry, Val Rapava Ruskin, Nick Schonert and Ben Howard ready to cement positions.
“Losing Dewald is a blow, but we’ve got enough senior players to cope.”