Trio's return enhances Worcester Warriors' preparation

Recent injury returns in the pack have allowed Warriors to both improve their set piece on the field with experienced heads and their ability to contest the set piece more competitively in training, according to forwards coach Tom Cruse.

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Recent returns to the pack include Leicester Tigers academy product Archie Vanes, former Leicester Tigers second-row Côme Joussain and former Northampton Saints academy and Glasgow Warriors prop Callum Smyth.

Smyth had joined with an injury but made his first start in Warriors' most recent match with Caldy on Saturday, February 21. Meanwhile Joussain had started the campaign well but sustained an injury early-on which kept him out for the first half of the season, and Vanes had impressed in pre-season but spent the first half of the season on the side lines.

"It’s great to have them back training and great seeing them back on the pitch as well," the coach told Worcester News.

"It’s been a frustrating time for them. As a player you just want to play, that is all you want to do – you want to add to the environment."

On the what is added by the trio, Cruse continued: "Vanes has had a sort of in-and-out year, whish is frustrating for him but it is great to see him back. He adds leadership, he is a guy that has come through Leicester academy so we know what we’re getting from him.

RETURN: Côme Joussain has recently returned for Worcester Warriors after an injury that ruled him out for much of the first half of the season (Image: Nick B Images)

"Côme Joussain, big personality and obviously big in stature as well so adds a lot to the forward pack, he has got some minutes under his belt the past couple of weeks which has been great to see and again just adds loads to the environment in terms of his personality.

RETURN: Callum Smyth made his debut and first Worcester Warriors start in a 50-33 home win over Caldy (Image: Nick B Images)

"With Cal Smyth, he had a frustrating one a couple of weeks ago when he didn’t get on. A couple of knocks throughout the week last week meant that he ended up starting and he just prepared himself so well throughout the week that he was brilliant at the weekend so I loved seeing him on the pitch."

RETURN: Archie Vanes recently made his debut after a long-term injury that had kept him out for Worcester Warriors since pre-season (Image: Nick B Images)

Cruse felt the returns had bolstered the scrum, line-out and maul, as former Leicester Tigers, Gloucester and Saracens prop Fraser Balmain had also done upon his return a month prior.

"Definitely," he said. "There are two sides to it. Having your experienced heads in who know what they’re doing, definitely.

"There is also having the ability to train really competitively to prepare for a weekend.

"Both sides of it have definitely helped us the past few weeks and obviously going into Nottingham (Friday, February 27) it meant that we can prepare well again."