Worcester 'needed' tough Coventry test - Everard

Worcester Warriors scored three of their four tries in the second half to complete their comeback win at Sixways

Worcester Warriors head coach Matt Everard said his side "needed" the type of hard game they got in their win over Coventry in their Champ opener to sharpen their focus after all the emotion and attention of the club's return to the sport.

Warriors recovered from trailing 19-7 at half-time to clinch a 29-19 victory at Sixways in the first competitive match at the stadium since the former Premiership club went into administration in September 2022.

Since being appointed in July, Everard has built a 34-man squad from scratch and moulded them into a cohesive unit in three months.

And they responded in style, delivering a win in front of a packed house.

"Hats off, Coventry were superb and made it a tough game," Everard told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We were a bit jittery and played a bit nervous in the first half which was completely fine - it shows we care.

"We stayed calm and came up with some solutions. We spoke about discipline and we made it very hard for them to get out of their half."

After pre-season warm-up games against Ampthill and an emotional night at Sixways against reigning Prem champions Bath, Warriors' local derby with Cov was the start of the serious action.

"We needed a tight game and a scrappy win with physicality and grit and that was exactly what it was," Everard said.

"We needed that win.

"I already knew it after the games against Ampthill and Bath but it confirmed how resilient the group are how much they care and fight for each other even thought they've only known each other for 80 days, they've got so tight so quickly.

"I definitely feel proud of the group. It wasn't perfect but we knew it wouldn't be but it wasn't lacking any effort.

"There's not been competitive rugby here in three-and-a-half years and to see all my family and the Worcester fans is something I won't forget."

Worcester's game against Coventry was the first competitive rugby match played at Sixways since September 2022

'We don't need to carry nerves into a game'

Everard is aware that the rest of the Champ will see Worcester as the team to beat this season given their high-profile return and does not want fans to think Saturday's win shows they are strong favourites to challenge for the title.

"It's a really tough league," he said.

"We've got Hartpury next week and they only lost two games at home last year and those were the last two with one against [champions] Ealing.

"So they're a really hard team to beat.

"It's a tough league and potentially a tougher league than people give it credit for and I think it's at the best level it's been since the last couple of decades.

"We don't need to carry nerves into a game. We need to enjoy it. When we do we look dangerous."