Worcester Warriors in 'really good place' - Cruse

Tom Cruse (left) was part of the coaching set-up at Northampton Saints and Bedford Blues before joining Worcester Warriors this summer

Worcester Warriors assistant coach Tom Cruse says they are in a "really good place" heading into the second block of games in this season's Champ campaign.

Warriors take on bottom club Cambridge at the weekend, fresh from having a fortnight off after picking up five wins in their seven matches, to sit second in the table.

"The boys have been brilliant in the first block of seven games," Cruse told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We've all got little bits we want to improve and there's always stuff to get after.

"We want to improve as a team and hopefully this block of fixtures gives us the opportunity."

Worcester, back in business three years after nearly becoming extinct because of their financial meltdown in 2022, have beaten Coventry, Ampthill, London Scottish, Caldy and Nottingham so far in their professional return.

Those past two victories in particular showed the squad - formed and moulded from scratch by head coach Matt Everard and his coaching team - possess admirable battling qualities, winning both games with last-gasp scores.

"Those last two games were brilliant," said Cruse.

"But the closeness of the group to grind it out and find a way to win was really pleasing."

'We talk about being hard to beat, not where we want to finish'

Warriors take on winless Cambridge seven points behind unbeaten leaders Ealing and one point ahead of Bedford.

Cruse said he and the rest of the coaches could not have asked for more from the squad over the first seven weeks.

"We've picked up some injuries, especially to some of the senior boys, and it becomes a bit of an unknown but it has given new leaders the chance to step up and we're very pleased with where we are off the back of that," he said.

"A few lads have put their hands up and played well and it's put us in a really good place."

Cruse said they have "parked" the first seven games and have "looked at where we've been good and where we could improve - we go week by week now".

"We're still a new side with loads of moving pieces but we're well prepared and looking forward to another block of fixtures," he said.

"We look at the table but we're a week-on-week team and we talk about being hard to beat. We don't talk about where we want to finish.

"There's no easy fixtures. We've just won our last two with the last throws of the game.

"We've looked at how we can get better statistically and technically and the points we can get after in this block."