We’re gearing up for a fast start say Exiles
LONDON Irish face a race against time to be ready for their return to the Premiership but hooker David Paice has warned their rivals not to underestimate them.
Paice claims the Exiles are in a “much better” place than they were when they got relegated.
While most clubs have been back training for three weeks now, the Exiles only began pre-season on Monday giving them just nine weeks before the Double Header at Twickenham where they will face arch-rivals Harlequins in the opening round of the season on September 2.
But Paice has revealed the Exiles are not looking to make drastic changes from their Championship winning campaign as they aim to avoid relegation. A fast start is their first big target of the season.
“It’s probably the latest I’ve started pre-season in a long time but hopefully it’ll be enough to be ready in time,” Paice, right, told The Rugby Paper.
“We know the Premiership will be a whole new level for us. We’ve been away for a year and all the other players have got bigger, stronger and faster so we’ve got to work hard to catch up.
“But we’re in a much better place than we were at the start of last season and we’re going to trust the blueprint that made us successful. We’ll be tested more this season but we’re confident it’s good enough.
“There’s no point targeting certain teams or games because it’ll only add pressure. We’ll do our best every week and make sure our performances improve weekon-week.
“I also think some teams might take us lightly which could give us an advantage at the start of the season at least.
“It could help us make a good start and that’s key because we can’t spend the first half of the season adapting back. We’ll have to be up to speed straight away. “We’ve got the Double Header at HQ against Quins and what a game that is to return to the Premiership. Games against Quins are always huge so I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Former England international Paice will be challenged for his No.2 jersey by Wallaby Sai Fainga’a who is set to arrive from Australia in the coming weeks.
But the 33-year-old is looking forward to the challenge knowing everyone will be needed at some point during the season.
He added: “I’m not getting any younger and we need a good squad to compete in the Premiership. Todd Gleave and Dave Porecki have been pushing hard in training, too, so we’ll have four good hookers ready to step up.
“Playing in the Premiership over the years I’ve realised that it’s a full squad effort rather than the matchday 23.
“You’re guaranteed to pick up injuries along the way so you’re always going to struggle if you only have 23 players to pick from.
“Being in the Championship last season allowed us to build that squad by giving a lot of young academy players the game time they needed but might not have been able to have in the Premiership because of the pressure.
“We saw a few of them shine especially in the backline like Joe Cokanasiga who was picked by England for the tour to Argentina.”