Pennell confident Warriors can beat the drop (From Worcester News)

Pennell confident Warriors can beat the drop

7:00am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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“THERE are six games left and we have the potential to win every one of them,” — that is the bullish outlook of Worcester Warriors wing Chris Pennell as the Guinness Premiership relegation battle hots up.

The academy graduate insists the only way is up for the Sixways side and he is determined to focus on the mid-table positions rather than the dreaded drop-zone.

“It’s going to be tight down at the bottom this year but hopefully it won’t be us down there,” said the Worcester born-and-bred 22-year-old.

“If we can win our remaining games, then we won’t need to worry about what’s going on down there and we can really focus on looking at Heineken Cup rugby.

“Every game left is winnable if we’re on the money — basically, it’s in our hands.”

The former England under 19 international is currently director of rugby Mike Ruddock’s first choice on the right wing and is keeping pace ace Marcel Garvey out of the team.

However, Pennell is just happy to be getting a run of games after recovering from the second knee reconstruction operation of his career.

He said: “I’m pleased to be back playing and getting some consecutive rugby — it’s absolutely ideal and probably a lot better than I could have hoped for this season.

“My knee is good, very good actually, and I’m not really having too many issues with it.

“I was having a fluid problem but that seems to have sorted itself out and I don’t think about my injury at all during games now.”

He added: “I was lucky to get my chance to get back in because, just before the Connacht home game, Rico Gear pulled out with a hamstring problem.

“The obvious replacement for him was Marcel but, unfortunately for him and luckily for me, he was ill and that was my way in.”