Worcester Warriors: Argentines to boost Premiership strugglers

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan says he is looking forward to having all four of his Argentine players available for the first time.

Leonardo Senatore has only two more of his seven-game ban for biting to serve.

And the end of the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship means Agustin Creevy and Mariano Galarza can now join Ignacio Mieres at Sixways.

"They're going to be two important players for us. Big, agile men," Ryan told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"It's a long season. We don't need to keep everybody out there every week.

"We're always going to reshuffle. The key is getting players out who have run 80 minutes at hot points throughout the season.

"Josh Matavesi has been one, David Lemi is another and Chris Jones is on that mark."

Worcester are yet to win this season, having lost their opening five Premiership games before being denied victory by a last-minute penalty in Saturday's 9-9 Challenge Cup draw at French side Oyonnax.

Oof the three Argentines signed before he arrived at the club this summer, Ryan had only stand-off Mieres, their summer signing from Exeter, at his disposal when the season kicked off.

But he was able to bring on lock-forward Galarza as a 55th-minute substitute in the draw with Oyonnax, as the Warriors ended their 10-match losing run.

"Galarza was always going to get some game-time in France," said Ryan. "He'll get more game time next week and it's the same with Creevy.

"I would like to play as many minutes as I can," said Galarza. "We can bring a lot to the team. I want us to get as high as we can in the league.

Prop Creevy is looking forward to making his expected debut in this Saturday's second Challenge Cup tie at home to Sale.

"I'm delighted to finally be here. I've been waiting for months to join up," he said.

As for Senatore, he is still to complete his suspension after being found guilty of biting Eben Etzebeth in Argentina's 22-17 loss to South Africa in August.

Although he too has now arrived at Sixways and is training with the Warriors, he is not available until the visit of Bath on 1 November.