Warriors coaches proud of squad's fight

Matt Everard has guided Worcester Warriors to second place in the Champ table seven points behind Ealing

Head coach Matt Everard says he and his staff are proud of the way the Worcester Warriors squad are fighting for each other and showing their belief and determination this season.

Warriors produced a gutsy comeback win away to Caldy in their last Champ game, recovering from a 15-7 deficit at half-time to win 17-15 with a last-gasp try.

The victory was Worcester's fourth in their six league games to date and kept them second in the early-season table.

"We were excited and pleased but I just think we're very proud of the lads staying in the fight, believing all the way until the end," Everard told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"I'm also proud of how close they've become as a group is such a short period of time.

"To see them celebrate like that [at the end] and care that much about each other in the time they've been together is credit to everyone in the group."

Everard said his squad, built from scratch this summer ahead of the former Premiership club's return to rugby after administration, are "still learning every week and from every training session" and said he could see the fruits of that against Caldy.

"We were proud of our set-piece stuff - Caldy have the best maul in the league and they didn't score a try [from one] and we didn't concede a penalty [defending one] - they went after them all," Everard said.

"We got ascendancy in there, and in the scrum, so we're really proud of our efforts there and it's something to keep growing in."

Match-winner Garside 'could drop in anywhere'

Warriors' late win was sealed by Jake Garside's second try of the match.

The former Northampton Saints player has operated at scrum-half and on both wings for Worcester this season and Everard said his versatility is a huge bonus.

"He's just a brilliant rugby player. I feel like he could drop in anywhere," he added.

"He's so tough. Jake's not the biggest but he's a tough young man. Physical - he doesn't back away from anything or anyone.

"He has this incredible ability to get to top speed in no distance at all, can kick off both feet and has a brilliant passing game. He wouldn't look out of place in many positions with those attributes.

"Lloyd Williams and Will Lane have played really well so we're blessed that Jake's skills give us depth in both positions."

Jake Garside made 15 appearances for Northampton Saints before moving to Worcester in the summer

Everard faces one of his former clubs on Saturday as Warriors host Nottingham at Sixways.

Having gone on loan as a teenager to Nottingham, Everard captained the club in the final four years of his playing career before to coach their academy side.

"I've got really fond memories of the club," he said.

"I finished my playing career there and started my coaching there so they are a massive part of the journey I've been on.

"They had an unfortunate result against Cornish Pirates last time but the games before that they've been very, very good.

"The are a different challenge to Caldy, they love to move the ball, are happy to play from their own half and have some serious threat on the wings.

"If you look at the top of the table there's nothing in it. We knew how good the league is and the challenges that are coming and there's another one coming on Saturday."

Nottingham took on then-reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby Cup last season