BRISTOL Rugby chairman Chris Booy remains confident that his side are on course to reach the GKIPA Championship play-offs – and that they can peak when it matters most this season.
Bristol have come under fire from some quarters for opting against kicking their penalties this season – and they have lost four of their opening 10 league games.
But chairman Booy and director of rugby Andy Robinson have reiterated their belief that Bristol are on the right path – and that kicking the vast majority of their penalties to touch is part of the bigger picture.
In the latest of his regular statements, published today on the club’s official website, chairman Booy wrote: “As we approach the halfway point of the Greene King IPA Championship campaign, we find ourselves in a tightly congested top five with plenty of rugby still to be played.
“There are positives to take from our opening ten games. Thirty-nine tries and ten bonus points so far – the highest total in the league – underline our attacking intentions and the positive mindset we are showing with ball in hand.
“And, with players set to return from long-term injury, coupled with an ability to compete with Premiership clubs for quality recruits if required, myself and the board of directors are confident that we will achieve our target of a place in the promotion play-offs.
“As we know only too well, the Championship is about peaking at the right time. We’re fine-tuning our game to ensure we are ready when it matters most: at the business end of the campaign.â€
Robinson was also quoted at length in Booy’s December statement, explaining in some detail why his players are being instructed not to kick for goal.
“We want to instil a resolute confidence and belief amongst our squad,†said Robinson. “It’s a long-term vision. That’s exemplified by our unswerving determination to score tries, rather than kick for the posts.
“That strategy was always going to be part of the team’s development process in the first half of the campaign. It’s a key element for us – by putting the impetus on our players to execute, we’re preparing them for the high-pressure, all-or-nothing situations that we are still to encounter.
“In the games we’ve lost this season, we have come up against very organised defensive displays, while being undone by errors of our own. We must learn how to turn our possession and territory control into points, but, despite those four defeats, I have confidence in this group that we can develop that area of our game.
“We’re disappointed with the points we’ve conceded and that’s an area that we are focusing closely on to improve. A new defensive system has been introduced – a system that we believe is extremely effective – and that takes time to implement.
“There will be more obstacles to come, but I hope that the supporters can see from the attitude and endeavour shown by each and every player, the exciting style of rugby we are trying to produce and the values that we have put in place at the club, that Bristol Rugby is moving in the right direction.
“Make no mistake, myself, Sean [Holley] and the coaching staff are absolutely committed to winning games and bringing Premiership rugby to Bristol, but there will be no half-measures. It’s vital we ensure we achieve it by playing a brand of rugby that is sustainable and can cope with the demands – when we get there – of the top flight.
“There is still lots of work to do. We’ve rotated the squad in the first half of the season, and every player has had an opportunity to showcase their abilities.
“Now, it’s time for us all – players, staff, management and supporters – to drive forward together and challenge for a coveted place in the top four.â€
Bristol travel to bottom-of-the-table Ealing on Saturday, before hosting Moseley in their final game of 2013 on Saturday, December 28.
Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24129416
Chris Booy and Andy Robinson explain Bristol Rugby"s strategy in chairman"s ...
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