Sacrifices need to be made to succeed – Redpath

DEPARTING head coach Bryan Redpath believes some Yorkshire Carnegie players will need to show an improvement in desire and work ethic if they are to achieve the club’s goal of promotion.

Carnegie saw hopes of earning a long-awaited return to the Premiership disappear after Wednesday’s 55-48 Championship final second-leg loss at London Irish.

Already trailing by 11 points from the first leg, it meant they eventually fell short by 18 as Irish – relegated 12 months previously – rightly completed an immediate return.

It was infuriating for many watching, however, as the underdogs had chances to make life difficult for their illustrious opponents only to make the sort of rudimentary errors that have bogged them down so many times before this season.

It was Redpath’s final game in charge since joining in March 2015 as the former Scotland captain – who coached at both Gloucester and Sale Sharks – now swaps professional rugby for a career in the financial sector.

Many players are moving on, too, including captain Ryan Burrows, who heads to Newcastle Falcons, fly-half Joe Ford, longserving hooker Phil Nilsen and Seb Stegmann, the winger who scored two tries versus Irish, but, it was announced yesterday, joins fellow top-four Championship club Ealing Trailfinders for 201718.

For those who are staying, Redpath had a blunt message as they prepare for next season when life will be even more difficult given the play-offs are disbanded for a return to one-up, one-down promotion and relegation.

Well-backed Bristol have been relegated, but will be automatic favourites to return especially as there are question marks over what Carnegie’s budget will be as their partnership with the university draws to a close.

Asked where they can learn lessons, Redpath said: “Monday to Friday.

“It needs to be hard and there needs to be sacrifices and it needs to be understood that you need to be as fit as you can be.

“You need to work harder Monday to Friday to get your rewards Saturday.

“We’ve fought through injuries so we’ve not been able to work people as hard as we’d have liked, but I go back again to the little things that make all the difference.

“You don’t need all the talent; you need knowledge and execution to catch, pass, make a kick and to have a work ethic on the kick-chase... all the little things

“Nobody tried to make mistakes (Wednesday), but we made them. Everyone tried right to the very end and it showed with how much we wanted to win when there was a little dust-up towards the end, but we didn’t execute well enough.”

There was a point when Carnegie led 10-5 on the night and, therefore, had got to within just one score, trailing by only six points on aggregate.

However, they failed to consolidate and, instead, gifted points to Irish, a side who needed little encouragement to see the job through.

“We didn’t execute some of our exits when we scored and we messed up a restart that gave them a possession straight back,” bemoaned Redpath, looking back on where it went wrong.

“I think there was two interceptions in there as well.

“I think on a whole the best team won over the season and the two legs. It’s as simple as that.

“We didn’t execute under pressure. They executed better under pressure and that’s what happens when the little things that you may take for granted Monday to Friday bite you in the bum when it’s the biggest game.

“Ultimately, hopefully, the boys will have learned from the experience over these two legs as they have played against a Premiership outfit and we’ve come close, but not close enough on the little things.”

Assistant coach Jimmy Lowes will replace Redpath next season, stepping up to take charge for a second spell having previously been head coach in 2013-14 before leaving to return to rugby league with Bradford Bulls.

Redpath, 45, said: “I’ve fond memories from this sport. Before the game I was a bit emotional with the lads, but now I’m pretty calm and chilled about it all.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t do our best, but I’ve had a great time.

“I always thought it was never about me so I won’t make this about me now.

“I’ll go have some beers with everyone over the next couple of days – and then start some building work on my house.”