Hill warns his Warriors of Albion revival (From Worcester News)

Hill warns his Warriors of Albion revival

5:22pm Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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WORCESTER Warriors’ head coach Richard Hill has warned his side to beware the wounded animal when they head for Plymouth Albion tomorrow (3pm).

The Brickfields outfit slumped to a 51-3 defeat in their Championship curtain-raiser at Bedford Blues.

It is that loss which has put Hill on red-alert as Warriors prepare to face Graham Dawe’s side in Devon.

“We will come across a wounded animal which has had a very sharp stick stuck up it’s backside by Graham Dawe,” said Hill, who played with Dawe for Bath and England.

“Graham will be very embarrassed by the loss and will make it quite clear that heavy defeats are not acceptable.

“He will not be happy with 50 points and they will have had a battering in training this week and will be fired up for this game.”

Hill was surprised by Plymouth’s margin of defeat at Bedford after watching them go down 23-17 in a pre-season clash at Welsh Premiership champions Neath.

“Any team that loses by 50 points has clearly got a problem in some areas, so we will look at that closely on the video.

“Having watched them against Neath in pre-season, I thought they were quite an accomplished team, so I was surprised. They will be better than they were last weekend, but we’ve still got the firepower to beat Plymouth.”

Dawe, who celebrates his 51st birthday today, said: “This is a fresh challenge and every player should be mentally strong enough to take it on.

“I believe our players will rise to the challenge of playing Worcester — we have got a very enthusiastic team and they want to respond at home.”

Hill has made one change from the side that stormed to a 48-3 victory over Birmingham and Solihull last Saturday.

England Saxons lock Graham Kitchener comes in for the injured Craig Gillies (ankle).

Kitchener impressed in the Churchill Cup for England during the summer and is handed his first start, while New Zealand international lock Greg Rawlinson is named among the replacements as he prepares for his first competitive action this season.

However, flanker and former captain Pat Sanderson remains in the treatment room with a rib injury.

Plymouth are hoping to have fly-half Alex Davies back in their side after he, and fellow stand-off Kieran Hallett, missed the Blues trip.

But, while Davies should return, club captain Hallett is still likely to be a couple of weeks away from fitness after suffering a serious foot infection.

Influential duo, centre Keni Fisilau and prop Martin Rice, also remain on the sidelines for Albion.

Worcester Warriors: Arscott; Garvey, Crockett, Higgitt, Benjamin; Carlisle, Arr; C Black, Shervington, Douglas, Kitchener, Bowley, Best, Abbott, Horstmann (capt). Reps: Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Collins, Williams, Goode, Rasmussen.