Fourie: Tigers must get over it

Sedgley looking to bounce back

HOW does a team get over its heaviest ever defeat? “Easy, move on to the next game.” That was Director of Rugby Tim Fourie’s answer when asked the question after the Tigers was thrashed 96-3 by runaway National League One leaders Northampton Saints last weekend.

“We just have to get over it; the cup game at Bedford is already upon us, so we’ve had no time to wallow in self pity.”

However, that doesn’t mean the huge loss down at Franklin’s Gardens has been swept under the Park Lane carpet; far from it.

“It goes without saying that we’ve looked at our defensive techniques and come to the conclusion that certain people have not been doing what we’ve asked of them and it is not because they can’t.

“Against Northampton we were looking for guys to stand up and be counted; one or two did but a few didn’t.

“You can’t hope to do much against a full-time team particularly with their strength in dept, but you do expect guys to step up and not back off.

“So we will be looking to take our hurt out on Bedford in the EDF National Trophy.

“We will again have the option of trying one or two things out with a view to improving our overall game.

“It’s an opportunity to give guys the chances they have been asking for, but having been given them they have to put up or shut up.

“The seconds have a very important game themselves so we don’t want to weaken them, which means we will be looking to the current first team squad.”

The Tigers ran Bedford close back in October in the league before going down 24-20. So they will travel down to Goldington Road knowing they are capable of producing a performance and hopefully a upset.

“They are a big tough side, but we had them rattled down at their place earlier in the season, so if we up the ante a bit more we are confident we can beat them,” added Fourie.

There will be one or two changes to the side that went to Franklin’s Gardens.

Phil Jones will be missing nursing a rib injury which means Steve Nutt gets a shot at fly-half and Matt Riley returns to the fullback berth.

Freeman Payne is given a chance to show what he can do in his favoured position of outside centre with Andy Craig starting on the bench. At scrum-half Chris Leck should start ahead of Jamie Albinson, provided he comes through a fitness test.

There is just one change in the forwards, with Director of Rugby Fourie starting at Number 8 instead of Jon Skurr; but there is a good reason for that.

The Tigers’ 28-year-old joint top try scorer has been head-hunted by the Irish Rugby Football Union and invited to coach the Ireland Sevens side, having played sevens rugby earlier in his career, in particular captaining the Irish Exiles in addition to being capped by Ireland Under 21s.

“I was asked a while ago if I was interested and chatted it over with the club before agreeing to accept the offer, so I’ll be meeting up with the guys this weekend for the first time over in Ireland,” he explained.

“Initially we’ll be looking at competing in a few warm-up competitions in Denmark, Poland and Germany and then hopefully on to World Cup qualifiers in Wellington, New Zealand, and San Diego, USA, with a view to qualifying for the IRB World Cup Sevens in Dubai in March 2009.

“It is a really exciting opportunity and both Tim Fourie and Geoff Roberts have been very supportive and encouraging and hopefully I won’t miss too many Tigers’ games.

“At the moment I’ll be working with the players not included in Ireland’s Six Nations and Churchill Cup competitions, so there will be players with Magners League experience as well as those playing in the All Ireland League. It will be a big step up for one or two of them but I am looking forward to the challenge.”
And he jetted out to Dublin with the full backing of the club.

“Not only does it reflect well on ‘Skurrsy’, it also reflects well on the club, the players and the coaching team we have here, so he goes with our blessing,” said president Geoff Roberts.

“Hopefully it may benefit the club in other ways, too. For example, Jon will be getting to know some up-and-coming Ireland internationals who may like to gain some experience in National Division One – with Sedgley Tigers!”